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The rubber mannequin has taken a serious pounding, a puddle of sweat has pooled on the gym floor and the tattered punch bag looks like it could use a corner-man to throw in the towel.

The fighters - keen and disciplined - move from jump rope to speed-ball to sparring with focused intensity at the behest of a buzzer which sounds every few minutes, moving them around a torturous circuit.

In one corner Daniel Burgess, one of the young, hungry boxers, relentlessly pounds on the pads as veteran coach Quinn Paynter, absorbs the blows, shouting words of encouragement.

Reece Simpson, a construction worker preparing for his fifth bout, works the unfortunate mannequin - reining blows on its' prosthetic head which snaps back and forward like a crash-test dummy.

Vanessa Furbert, a recent police academy graduate preparing for her first bout, diligently skips rope along with her fellow officer, 20-year-old basketballer Juan Looby, who is trying to convert his court skills to the ring.

It's the busiest time of year at the Police Gym as some of the island's top amateur fighters prepare to take on New York's finest at the Black-Tie Boxing event on Saturday night.

"Our main job is convincing them they have it in them," says Charles Wade - one of the assistant coaches at the gym.

"A lot of people come up here just thinking they'll give it a go, not knowing what to expect, and they get hooked. This place generates so much positivity and self esteem. But I always tell them you only get out what you put in. We can only work with you, if you work with us."

Wade has a simple test for newcomers to the gym. Give me two laps of the field, he tells them.

"Some times they say 'I ain't doing two laps - I came here to box', then I tell them I can't help them. If you can't take orders you can't be coached.

"We don't let anyone fight until they are ready."

Robyn Swan, a prison officer getting ready for her third competitive bout, has felt the sharp end of her trainers' tongue on many occasions.

But the 27-year-old admits she wouldn't be sitting on a 2-0 record without the relentless encouragement of Wade, Paynter and Mannix Simmons

"I'm a very difficult person to train. They know that. I'm lazy, I don't listen, but I get good training down here."

Swan, who admits she loves to fight and used to beat up boys at school, is confident she can pick up another victory on Saturday night in-front of the elegantly attired crowd at the Fairmont Southampton - on one of boxing's biggest nights of the year.

Swan's confidence is characteristic of the upbeat mood at the gym. Few of the fighters know anything at all about their opponents - mostly firefighters and police from New York - but most believe they will emerge victorious.

Burgess, a muscular middleweight who started coming down the gym to keep fit and 'stay out of trouble' said he was enjoying the challenge of preparing for another fight.

So far his record is 1-1, and he's looking to improve.

"After every fight, whether I win or lose, I still feel I can get better. Every time I try to look at something I can do to improve.

"Managing your breathing is the hardest part. You have to remember it's like a marathon. You can't sprint the first mile and expect to finish the race."

Avita O'Connor believes the support of her friends, including her pastor, in the crowd on Saturday night, will help her earn her first win.

She lost a close bout at the Teacher's Rugby Club Fight Night in March, and is hoping for a more favourable decision from the judges this time.

She's been training for three years - just for fitness - but only decided to fight this year,

"I was training very hard and I love it, so I thought, why not give it a go? I think I have the potential to be a boxer.

"Women can be just as good as men - that's how I see it.

"Last time, I lost, but I still felt proud. I did my best and I thought I did just as good as the other boxers."

O'Connor opens up the card tomorrow night against Vanessa Furbert, other highlights of the card include 'hammering hairdresser' Josh Smith (8-2) taking on Will Hamilton (10-15) of the New York police department in a heavyweight bout, MR Onions footballer Mark Dunlop (3-1) against Keith Moran, a firefighter from the Big Apple, and Lamark Ingram giving (1-0) battling the odds to take on the much more experienced Jack Kirrane, another firefighter with eight bouts behind him.

Reece Simpson will rumble with the heaviest fighter of the night - 260lb novice Carlos Castillo - in a Super Heavyweight bout, while Renegades, Bermuda and West Indies rugby star Tom Healy has been matched up against Todd Velten in a middleweight bout.

During the intermission there will be a demo from Bermuda's Beijing bound San Shou team and the evening will conclude with a Super Heavyweight exhibition bout between Kevin Kirrane, who is preparing to compete in the prestigious Golden Gloves competition, and fellow New York firefighter John Soukas.[[In-content Ad]]

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