In the pink corner

Prepare yourself for a pink pounding

Forget the Dark Destroyer, the Hitman and the Real Deal, there's a new kid in town.

Step forward the Pink Pounder, billed as Britain's first out and proud gay boxer.

It's not a nickname that would strike fear into the hearts of seasoned pros, but Charles Jones insists he will be no pushover.

"I'm not a gay man who happens to box," he told London's Evening Standard newspaper.

"I'm a boxer who happens to be gay and doesn't give a toss who knows it."

The Dark Destroyer, Nigel Benn

The 43-year-old architect steps into the ring next Thursday, against an as-yet unnamed opponent, confident his sexuality will not be an issue when the bell sounds.

"Once I'm in the ring, I want to give a good account of myself and send my opponent back to the dressing room knowing that he has been in a fight," he said.

It's a feeling shared by ex-fighter Mark Burford, who runs The Ring gym in south London where Jones trains.

"The old days when gay people had to fight their corner have gone," he said.

"The lads here don't give a stuff about Charles being gay. If anything, we salute him for having the nuts to turn around and say what he is."

It was Burford who came up with the Pink Pounder nickname, which Jones immediately embraced. He will also be wearing a gay rainbow freedom flag stitched to his chest.

But he drew the line at Burford's suggestion he wear a pair of pink sequinned shorts.

And let's face it, who's going to tell him any different?