Dubai: Mark Barr was named Business Boxing Champion in front of a packed audience of over 500 spectators at the first Business Boxing Gala, held at Conrad Dubai’s Grand Ballroom on Friday.

The evening was the culmination of an eight-week intensive training regime for the 16 amateur fighters who brought their skills to the ring to go toe-to-toe for three, two-minute rounds.

As well as Business Boxing Champ, Barr was named Best Boxer of the Night after his win over Simon Trigg in the fifth match of the night sponsored by Safe Line.

The evening began with a skills bout, where young amateurs Ethan Liversage and Jack Howard showcased their training as they prepare to enter the amateur circuit.

The second bout of the night – and the first in the competition – sponsored by Deals on Wheels, went to Sajjad Bhanji over Anthony Florentino. Phillip Robson beat Michael Samadhin to win the third, and Jeffrey Albuero took out the fourth over Jerome Ladigeon.

The sixth match saw Neil Clark beat Peter Brimson, with Neil recognised as the Best Trainer in the evening’s awards and prize giving.

In one of the most impressive bouts of the night, Daniel Riordan narrowly took home the prize over Andrew Johnston in a match awarded Best Bout of the Night.

The final bout between Colin Liversage and Chris Howard – the fathers of Ethan and Jack who opened the night – went to Liversage, with both fighters awarded in the night’s prize-giving for each having lost 8kgs in training for the match.

Business Boxing Gala event organizer and trainer Lee Hurford said the evening was a showcase of amateur talent. “Make no mistake, at the beginning of the programme these guys couldn’t have stood in the ring, but this is a proper boxing contest and all these contestants have undergone gruelling preparation to get where they are tonight,” he said.

“It’s taken a lot of intense hardwork for these guys to get to where they are today and they’ve seen huge changes in themselves along the way – both physically and mentally. The result has been a great night for boxing, for spectators who love the sport and for all these guys who got up there into the ring,” he added.

Corporate boxing challenges white-collar men and women who have never boxed before to enter the ring for a real boxing match. Competitors prepared with rigorous training over eight weeks, under the professional tutelage of Hurford and his team at the Lee Hurford Boxing Academy.

People can now sign up for the next Business Boxing competition taking place in November.