Nathan Cleverly

Enzo Maccarinelli

On Saturday 24th April, 60 very fit people turned out to Challenge two of Wales’ finest ever boxers in a gruelling test of stamina in aid of children’s cancer charity The Joshua Foundation.

Held at the WRU Centre of Excellence at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Hensol, Challenge the Champions featured members of the public running 10km and then doing 8 minutes of floor exercises against former world champion, Steve Robinson and current European Light Heavyweight champion, Nathan Cleverly.

Competitors were timed for their 10km run and then a second was taken off for every press-up, sit-up, squat thrust and burpee completed in 8 minutes (two minutes of each exercise)

The majority of the 10km run was through the beautiful Hensol Forest and proved to be very tough hilly track. However, first home with a very respectable 42 minutes exactly was Cardiff’s Nathan Allen.

Only 1 minute behind him was Nathan Cleverly, who was a Welsh junior middle distance runner and a further 3 ½ minutes back was 41 year old Steve Robinson.

In the floor exercises, Steve Robinson blew everybody away with an amazing 518 reps which reduced his run time from 46.55 to 38.17 and 4th place overall. The only person to get anywhere near Steve was Chris Bevan from Bridgend with 500.

Unfortunately, Nathan had to miss the floor exercises because he was late for a 12 round sparring session.

1st place overall went to Michael Young who travelled all the way from Glasgow for the event with a run time of 43.30 and a total of 386 reps for a combined score of 36.24. Michael is a keen amateur boxer with Kilsyth Golden Gloves.

2nd went to Personal fitness trainer, Phil Haymer, of Cardiff with a combined time of 36.42 and 3rd went to Brian Kerry, also of Cardiff with 36.56.

Many ladies turned up for the event and the first woman home was Trudy Ferzey with a run time of 64.09 and 127 reps for an event time of 62.02.

The whole event was generously sponsored by former professional middleweight boxer, Dario De’Abreu and his company, Specialist Security Ltd.