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When footballer Mark Dunlop first signed up for Fight Night it was supposed to be a one-shot deal.

The Scottish accountant - a striker for MR Onions - had been nicknamed 'the lump' by his team-mates because of his hulking 230lb frame and wanted to get in shape.

Two years later he has a 5-1 record and after his dominant performance against Canadian fighter Brian Curry at Saturday's Number One Shed Knockdown, he is thought of as one of the island's top amateur fighters.

And while many fighters like to showboat with intimidating names like Raging Bull, The Hitman and Pretty Boy, Dunlop is happy to stick with 'The Lump.'

"I actually keep that nickname. It reminds me of what I used to be like," said Dunlop, though he admits he's not about to get robes with the name 'The Lump' printed on the back.

"Initially it was supposed to be a one-off. My friend from the football club did it the previous year and I thought, I'd have a go."

Now, after taking part in virtually every local fight night, the Rumble on the Beach and the Police Black-Tie event and training year-round he is finally starting to think of himself as a boxer.

"In the past I'd watched the DVDs and I'd cringe a bit when I looked at it. I didn't see much technical boxing, just two guys swinging at each other and one guy fitter than the other or maybe throwing a few more punches.

"This time it went exactly as I visualized it and I did come out of the ring feeling like a boxer.

"Some people were saying I didn't get a good opponent but it wasn't that he was not very good I just felt I knew exactly what I was doing this time.

"I'm still going to carry on training and see what happens."

Dunlop says he couldn't have done it without inspirational coach Chucky Renaud, who runs Controversy Gym in Spanish Point, offering his services and equipment for free, three nights a week.

"The last few months the gym's been full and there's a lot of new guys so I've been able to give something back to Chucky by offering them a few pointers and helping him out rather than just training for myself.

"He's a great guy. He works a whole lot of hours and still takes time to train everybody for nothing.

"Fight Night is his night. I don't know how many boxers were fighting but most of the Bermuda fighters were from Chucky's gym.

"That night is all down to his dedication. Everybody that goes down Chucky's gym thinks the world of him."[[In-content Ad]]

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