A professional boxing contest in Melksham next month will be an historic occasion as records show it could be the first ever to be held in west Wiltshire.
The Christie Miller Sports Centre in Bowerhill will stage the match on June 26, which will see promising local boxers Nick Blackwell, 18, of Rutland Crescent, Trowbridge and Liam Richards, 22, of Melksham make their professional debuts.
Their trainer Mark Kent is investigating the area’s boxing history and has already paid a visit to Trowbridge Museum in The Shires shopping centre to see what he can find out.
He said: “We are looking into the history of professional boxing in the area at the moment and will be going down to the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham soon to see if we can dig any more up.
“When I spoke to Trowbridge Museum they said they had records of bare knuckle fights as early as the 1800s, but no traces of professional matches and in Melksham I don't think there have ever been professional shows in that period either.
“But this is obviously something we are looking into and when we know more we are going to launch a competition about the history of boxing in the area.
“People who give us the right answers could then win free ringside tickets.”
Mr Kent, who trains both the young boxers at the Contender Gym in Church Street,Trowbridge, said although there have been amateur fights in the area in the past, this could be the first professional contest.
Tickets for the event on June 26 can be bought from the Christie Miller Centre or at the Contender Gym.
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