Belfast Metropolitan College hosted a night of glamour and grit at its annual boxing gala on Friday.
Ten bouts took place between a Belfast Met Boxing Academy select and Sheffield City Boxing Club Select at the Clayton Hotel.
The event followed a special weigh-in at Belfast City Hall when Olympian and former Belfast Met Boxing Academy student Aidan Walsh watched over proceedings.
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The Gala was a showcase of the talent on offer at the Boxing Academy and the opportunities on offer at Belfast Metropolitan College for those looking to hone their boxing skills while also acquiring qualifications that can lead them to employment.
Belfast Metropolitan College’s Boxing Academy is the first full-time academic Boxing Academy in Ireland, taking its first intake of students in September 2015.
Students in the Academy study towards a Vocational Fitness Industry Qualification along with Essential Skills Maths and English while benefitting from High Performance Boxing Coaching from International level coaches Gerry Storey MBE and Martin Lindsay.
The Academy provides the opportunity to gain a unique progression pathway to level 3 vocational qualifications which equip students for the workplace and employment within the Fitness Industry, Personal Training or Coaching.
Louise Warde Hunter, Chief Executive and Principal, Belfast Metropolitan College said: “The Boxing Gala is a terrific opportunity for our young Academy boxers to showcase the incredible skills they have learned while at the College.
"Our Academy boxers have put in hard work and dedication and it was wonderful to welcome their friends and families to celebrate a fantastic night of boxing success and see these young athletes put their talents on display.
“It was also a great pleasure to welcome boxers from Sheffield City Boxing Club to Belfast, who took part in matches and delivered an electric evening for our guests.
"The strong partnership between our two boxing academies allows both sides to learn from each other and gain new skills, knowledge and abilities both in and out of the ring.
“Belfast Metropolitan College also deeply appreciates the special relationship and the exciting opportunities on offer through our collaboration with Belfast City Council, especially in the Council’s Boxing Strategy for Greater Belfast.
"We extend our thanks to Belfast City Council as valued partners in the enhancement of the sporting offer, and in particular in boxing, at our College.”
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