Army boxers prepare for eye-catching bouts ahead of busy season
British Army boxers have returned to their full-time training programme following their summer break, with an immediate focus on a busy competition calendar ahead.
Many boxers have their eyes set on competing at the UK Armed Forces Championships and the National Championships later on in the season.
But their immediate challenge is international competition as they prepare to face boxers from the German Bundeswehr on 18 October.
Head coach Staff Sergeant Shane Sadler sees the event against their German counterparts as a key component in the team's development.
"It's great experience, you can't buy better experience than that," he said.
"I think it's all about that exposure, the most exposure we can give them before we go onto the National Championships next year will build us up greatly for that."
The Army will also have the opportunity to go up against the National Team of Bahrain in Catterick on the 2 November, an opportunity which SSgt Sadler says is thanks to the "good relationship" the Army has with their Bahrain opponents.
"We go up there and you box in front of 1,200 people which will make a little bit of noise, hopefully, supporting us.
"But against Bahrain, they are going to come all the way over, a good relationship. Obviously, their head coach now is the head coach of the Army team, it's kept that sort of relationship but, again, it's international opposition, they have been boxing all over the world. It will give us great experience."
The British Army v Bahrain boxing friendly will be broadcast live on the Forces News YouTube channel, with catch-up available on BFBS TV for serving personnel only.
Find out how you can watch here.
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