The Clash of the Titans charity boxing match will see London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police servicemen battle it out in the ring at the Clapham Grand this month.
The night will see 15 bouts pairing up fighters from each service, and also a professional bout between Darren ‘The Hurricane’ Harrison and Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth on Sunday, November 27.
The cameras of ITV will also be gracing the Clapham Grand as part of filming for an upcoming documentary – The London Fire Brigade.
Miss Wandsworth Galaxy, Tyrell Davies, will be presenting the winning boxers with their trophies on the night.
“This is the first year this event has run and it’s the only official one that has ever been done,” said firefighter of ten years and event organiser John Tighe.
“I am hoping to run it every six months and will probably be over two nights due to the amount of interest it has got.”
Tighe’s charity work stems from 2014 when his mother had a bad fall and almost needed to have a leg amputation.
“After having her leg plated and pinned, The Fire Fighters Charity took her in to one of their rehabilitations centres and after attending there a number of times not only could she walk again but she can walk without the aid of a stick,” said Tighe.
“So I was myself taking part in boxing events, even fighting myself and raising money for other charities when I thought I could arrange my own event and raise money for the emergency services to look after the people who look after us all in our time of need.”
The event has attracted a letter of support from Prince Harry, and on the night there will be a charity auction with the chance to bid on memorabilia donated by the likes of boxer Frank Bruno and rugby referee Nigel Owens.
The evening may be all about charity, but guests will be treated to a professional bout of boxing between two fighters of high pedigree.
Both men are coming out of retirement for the night which will see former professional boxer and World Boxing Union champion Wayne Alexander appear as a referee.
Tooting-born Alexander, who now works in security, said he is looking forward to the night in the venue where he refereed a boxing match for the first time in 2009.
He said: “I’ve done work with John before and it looks like a great night for a great cause.
“I love the sport of boxing and refereeing is the closest you can get to the action inside the ring without fighting.”
As for the boxers – they are both looking for a win.
THE OX: Nick Okoth
Okoth, who has shared a ring with Tony Bellew, Nathan Cleverly and Denis Lebedev over 49 professional fights, said he is looking forward to getting back in the ring after five years of retirement.
He said: “At first I said no but fighting is a habit and it’s one night for a great cause.
“I’ve been training with professionals in the gym and the young kids can’t keep up with me!
“I’m going to win the way I do and enjoy the night.”
Okoth was ranked number two in the English cruiserweight rankings and eight in light-heavyweight during his career and his opponent and friend Harrison also comes with great pedigree.
Kickboxing is Harrison’s true trade and he represented England in the world kickboxing championships in 2010 reaching the quarter-final before winning the World Title in 2014 in Croatia.
He said: “I’ve been getting up at 5 in the morning and training twice or three times a day.
“It’s a fantastic venue and a great cause. I’ve come out of retirement for this but you’ve got one life and have to take these opportunities.
“I want to say thanks to my coach Andre Daltrey and the ARD Training camp. If I wasn’t confident in getting the win I wouldn’t fight – it’s not boxercise.
“Nick is a friend but it’s a sport. There’s a Hurricane coming!”
THE HURRICANE: Darren Harrison
The event will raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity, COPS (Care of Police Survivors) and the Blue Lamp Foundation, all charities that support workers in the service and their families.
The Fire Fighters Charity supports serving and retired fire fighters, fire personnel and their families offering physical rehabilitation and recuperation in times of need.
COPS is a charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives on duty, rebuild their lives.
The Blue Lamp Foundation supports support to ambulance, police or fire personnel who are injured in the course of duty and was set up by David Rathband, the policeman who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat.
Tickets can be purchased here.
