January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Female cops involved in punch up
But she has never faced the barrage of blows she expects when she steps into the boxing ring for the first time on Saturday night.
The officer, who was part of the summer tourism crime unit, will take on fellow cop Caron Adderley, in her first ever fight.
The match-up between the two female officers, now colleagues on the Somerset beat, will be one of the intriguing sub-plots on a night packed with fascinating bouts.
For Iqbal, 34, it will be the culmination of four months worth of intensive training.
“I got roped into it this year. It took some persuasion, believe me. I was not exercising enough and I wanted to increase my fitness so I agreed to do it.”
She has been training twice a week at the police gym, as well as doing step and aerobic classes.
Iqbal has been forced to spar with the men, as the only other woman training at the police gym was world NABC middleweight champion Teresa Perozzi.
“The training is really hard so it has been good for my fitness. I have improved my fitness levels quite a lot and I'm going to keep it up after Saturday.
“I'm okay about it at the moment, but I think I'll be nervous on Saturday.
“I'm just going to concentrate on what I have to do in the ring.”
She said she had never thought of herself as a boxer and the fact that she was getting in the ring had surprised her as much as it had her friends and family.
Iqbal, originally from Birmingham in the U.K., said she had never really even been involved in a fight before.
“Before I probably would have thought I was more likely to hurt my hand if I punched someone.
“I have never really been involved in a fight. There have been a few scuffles but I've never had to box anyone. At least now I'll know how to.”[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.