UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championships

The Ultimate Fighting Championships(R) started in 1993 as a professional mixed martial arts organisation offering the premier series of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) sports events.

The original concept was to have a tournament of the best athletes who were skilled in the various disciplines of all martial arts, including karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, grappling, wrestling, sumo and other combat sports.  The winner of the tournament would be crowned the champion.

That was way back then.  Now, UFC is a huge phenomenon in Japan, USA, South America, Europe and Australia.

A recent UFC event in Montreal, Canada attracted more than 21,000 people!  That's the largest audience in North America to witness a mixed martial arts event...ever!

If you'd like to learn more about UFC have a look below:

 

 

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Boxing's for Girls

We've noticed a recent surge in the fairer sex taking an interest in the art of pugilism.  We recently posted news here on The Saint's Blog about the Boodles Boxing Ball where Princes William and Harry and their girlfriends had a great evening raising money for the charity Starlight Children's Foundation.  The bill that night featured two Lady boxers - 'Bam-Bam' Bronwen Foster-Butler vs Alotta 'Carlotta' Newbury.  These girls are far from most people's idea of what a female boxer might be - Foster-Butler runs Blue-Stocking Model Management and Newbury is reported in the Daily Telegraph as being a Swiss-born Housewife!

Gemma Brodie, a female boxer from Scotland, has recently featured on the BBC Sports website.   Click here to view a BBC video of Brodie.

Websites such as Boxergirl cater for women all over the UK who are interested in boxing - providing useful information about fitness and training, where to find a good boxing gym, tournaments that are open to women, nutritional tips, advice and support.

So here's a cheer of support, from The Saint's HQ, for female boxers everywhere!

 

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That's got to hurt!

We've had lots of requests for pictures and video of Andy's great win.

Here's a cracker!  A right hook from The Saint and Billy 'The Raging' Turnbull takes it squarely on the nose ... no lasting damage we hope Billy?! 

We're working on a YouTube video and hope to give you access very soon. 

If anyone who attended the CRN Fight Night has photos they'd like to share, please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Right Hook,CRN Fight Night,YouTube,Andy 'The Saint' Sayers,Billy 'The Raging' Turnbull,white collar boxing,charity boxing event

Fitness Tips that really work

Much has been written about vitamins and supplements and their role in helping sports enthusiasts.  Andy has found that the rigours of training have taken their toll; sore muscles and strained ligaments require special care. 

Andy has discovered that supplementing his diet with Glucosamine and Chondroitin has helped to prevent joint discomfort.  Despite running hundreds of miles and a punishing schedule of weight training, Andy has not suffered from the usual tenderness in his knees that this type of training would often induce.

Andy continues to incorporate running, cycling and weights with his daily training regime.  Despite having won and finished specific training for his charity white collar boxing event, he enjoys maintaining the fitness levels he has achieved recently.  Andy continues to use Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements, along with a healthy balanced diet and plenty of fluids, to maintain healthy strain free joints.

So, there you have it Fitness Tips that really work from Andy 'The Saint' Sayers!

 

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The Sport of Princes?

Hot on the heels of Andy 'The Saint' Sayers' big win at the CRN Fight Night, it seems that there are many who are keen to emulate our hero.

Princes William and Harry were seen, with their girlfriends Kate  Middleton and Chelsea Davey, last Saturday at the fight night at the black-tie Boodles Boxing Ball.  The boxing event helped to raise over £120,000 for Starlight Children's Foundation, which grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children.

For more information on the star studded boxing match click here

 

 

 

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No hard feelings

Just to prove that there were no hard feelings, Billy 'The Raging' Turnbull was happy to meet up with Andy 'The Saint' Sayers after their brutal match.

Both fighters have been in contact with each other since the fight and are delighted that they provided such a spectacular fight for the crowd assembled last Thursday night at The Brewery.

Billy  said, "It was a good night all round and myself and Andy did share a beer later in the evening."

He went on to say "All the fighters afterwards had a lot of respect for each other as we were some of the few people in the room who appreciated the training that the person opposite had gone through.

I was glad that Andy and I fought each other as it was obvious we had each put a lot of training in and people commented how our fight was a really good boxing contest."

Both boxers are looking forward to seeing the DVD of their fight and reliving their moment of glory!

 

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Friends with Amanet

Oakham based IT business, Amanet, has been a regular supporter of Friends of English Martyrs.

Based in Mill Street, Amanet can supply a huge range of IT requirements from computer hardware to software to multi-room music equipment!

Amanet have generously sponsored Andy 'The Saint' Sayers and are proud to support this blog.

For professional and comprehensive help with all your IT needs contact Amanet on 01572 770653

Technorati Tags: Amanet,Oakham,IT business,multi-room music,Andy 'The Saint' Sayers,Friends of English Martyrs

Andy 'The Victorious Saint' Sayers

What an emotional evening last night turned out to be!

Here's a picture of Andy 'The Saint' Sayers as he left Oakham yesterday afternoon to head off down to London for the fight of his life

And here's the hero, our Saint on his return this morning to Oakham

Sporting a black eye and a fat lip, the boxing champion of Oakham is pleased to be home and extremely grateful for the tremendous support he's received. 

"It was a superb evening in a great venue and the organisers did a great job. There was a tremendous camaraderie amongst all the boxers and the backstage atmosphere was amazing.

We had to get to the venue quite early for our pre-fight medical which meant that there was plenty of time for the nerves to build up. But that all went by the time I'd walked through the curtains and was stood in my corner with my trainer, Ben Doughty, who has been an amazing mentor throughout the last 3 months.

Once in the ring, though, I tried to remember everything I've learned in training and to keep the pace up. A flurry of straight punches with a left hook here and there soon had my opponent on the back foot. I felt really good in the first round but by the second round I'd taken a few heavy shots from Billy and I had a lump under my eye! The Referee spotted it but the ringside Doctors said it was ok to carry on fighting as the swelling wasn't obstructing my vision. As I went into the third round I increased the intensity further and kept going with straight shots. These proved extremely effective in both raining blows on Billy and also wearing him down. In the last half minute I was still going strong but Billy was clearly out of puff.

It was an anxious few moments as the Referee stood between Billy and me whilst we waited for the winner to be announced. But when the Ref raised my right hand as the Winner I felt absolutely jubilant. It was a fantastic feeling and I'm so pleased to come home to Oakham with the Winners Trophy."

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The Saint's a WINNER !!!!!!

Facing a fearless opponent, Andy The Saint Sayers gave everything he had and came out victorious!!!!! 

Right from the off, The Saint landed most of the big hits and used his phenomenal strength and speed to his advantage.  By the second round, The Saint had the edge on his opponent and looked comfortable.  The crowd went wild with support for both fighters but it was clearly going to be The Saint's night. 

Apparently, he doesn't look much like a winner and ice is being applied liberally to his face and eyes by his trainer, Ben Doughty.

Having just spoken to Andy he was jubilant at his win and relieved not to have let his supporters down.

"I'm just so relieved" he said "It was a good match against a great opponent and I feel great!"

The Saint is in the ring

keep 'em crossed chaps, our man Andy is in the ring !

More news to follow!!!

A valiant effort from Nick the Hack

Nick The Hack Booth was a defiant opponent but was a last minute replacement for Jason The Tosh Destroyer Phillips opponent who was unable to complete his training and compete this evening.  With only 3 weeks training, Nick did an amazing job and congratulations go to both men for a splendid effort.

.....

Another KO

Another Knock Out seems to have taken place in the second bout.

Andy The Saint Sayers and Billy The Raging Bull Turnbull have just entered the ring!!!!

Breaking News!

Nick 'The Hack' Booth knocked out in first bout! 

More details as it comes in to The Saint's HQ.

First Bell !

The first bell has just sounded and as promised we'll try to bring you all the news from the ring!

The Saint passed his medical earlier this afternoon and is due to step into the ring at 19:45hrs.

Keep your fingers crossed and remember to say a prayer for Oakham's finest boxer!

We'll keep you posted!

 

Technorati Tags: boxing,Andy 'The Saint' Sayers,first bell,medical

The Real McCoy

The charity boxing match for Sport Relief that was held earlier this year featured UK soul star Lemar and GMTV presenter Ben Shephard. They battled it out in the ring and raised a lot of money for charity.

However, despite receiving training advice from Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton, Lemar and Shephard only had to box 3x 90second rounds.

Andy 'The Saint' Sayers will be boxing 3x 2minute rounds which is exactly the same as all amateur boxing bouts. (Professional bouts last 3 minutes)

This is further proof, if proof were needed, that this is no walk in the park. Andy's training has been tough, challenging and relentless. He's had to prepare for tomorrow nights fight in the same way any amateur boxer would train but only having the benefit of 3 months to get ready.

This is boxing, the real McCoy!

Technorati Tags: Boxing match,amateur boxing,GMTV,Ben Shephard,Lemar,Amir Khan,Richy Hatton,Andy 'The Saint' Sayers

JUST RELEASED - AMAZING AUCTION PRIZES

Here at 'The Saint's' HQ, we've just been contacted by the organisers of the CRN Fight Night and have a sneak preview of the amazing prizes that will be auctioned for all the charities on the night.

We couldn't keep this information to ourselves and thought we'd share it with you!  (If you can't make it on the night, you can still bid by telephone with your credit card - 07811 365071)

Auction Lots

Lot 1 – Signed Portsmouth Football Shirt - Winners of the FA Cup

As proud sponsors of FA Cup winners Premier League football club Portsmouth, OKI Printing Solutions is delighted to donate for auction a signed shirt by the first team.

This could be your chance to own a shirt signed by the first team including David James, Sol Campbell, Milan Baros and Jermain Defoe.

A great gift for family and friends, young and old!

Lot 2 - Classic iPod and state-of-the-art Sabre stereo speakers/ docking station

If you don’t have one, you should! Nortel have kindly donated this Classic iPod. Why should you have to choose what to put on your iPod? With up to 160GB of storage, Classic iPod lets you carry everything in your collection — up to 40,000 songs or up to 200 hours of video — everywhere you go. In a new, even thinner, all-metal design, this iPod is a modern classic.

Made especially for the iPod and generously donated by AMD, these powerful and high-quality Sabre stereo speakers will give you a crisp clear sound for all your music. Inserts for all different iPods are included.

These items come as one lot, so get bidding!

Lot 3 – Royal Windsor Racecourse – Monday Night Races

Royal Windsor Racecourse (www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk) is the UK’s only flat figure-of-eight racecourse. Situated on an island in the River Thames, the racecourse is known for its Royal patronage and popular Monday Night Racing fixtures which run from April to August this year.

Royal Windsor Racecourse is delighted to offer 10 of its Club Packages for one of the Summer Monday Night Racing evenings. The lucky group will enjoy a two-course meal in the Club Restaurant within the original Victorian Grandstand, premier Club Enclosure badges, race cards for the evening and free car parking.

Lot 4 – Mercedes-Benz – The ultimate driving experience

Feel the dream and prepare to experience the most awe-inspiring cars in the Mercedes-Benz range with the superlative power, control and technological wizardry of AMG.

Mercedes-Benz has kindly donated this incredible AMG Driving Experience which will be perfect for the car lovers among you. During this half day at the Mercedes-Benz World, you will master the art of driving a powerful car selected from their AMG range.

AMG cars are the pinnacle of their classes and the professional drivers will show your delegates how to master one.

· Spend time discovering how to control an AMG on the handling circuits.

· Experiment with the principles of oversteer and understeer.

· Take the car on a slalom course to test its balance and handling abilities.

· Experience the effects of too much power on a slippery surface and hone your skills to control that power.

· Endeavour to perfect a continual sideways slide around the Wet Skid Circle.

Can you handle it?

Lot 5 – Hospitality tickets to see Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium 

The Emirates Stadium provides Arsenal and its supporters with one of the best sporting arenas in the world.

CMS Peripherals has generously donated two hospitality tickets to see a game during the 2008/2009 season at the Emirates Stadium.

The 60,000 seat state-of-the-art stadium is the most technologically advanced in Europe, providing magnificent pitch views and modern facilities throughout.

You will have the chance to experience top-quality football at one of the best stadiums in Europe, as well as the unrivalled hospitality facilities and the best views of the action.

** CMS Peripherals and CRN cannot guarantee which match will be available in the 2008/2009 season **

Lot 6 – Tickets to Status Quo and Accommodation - The NEC, Birmingham

The NEC has very kindly donated two tickets to see one of the UK’s best loved bands, Status Quo, in their traditional winter tour of the UK on 22 December 2008.

Visiting venues the length and breadth of the country, the “Pictures – 40 Years of Hits” offers Quo’s army of fans the chance to experience the magic of this truly seminal British rock act. One of the world’s most enduring and successful live acts, the mighty Quo have influenced a generation of musicians and entertained millions with their driving, no-nonsense brand of rock.

To round off your evening, Event Express has kindly donated a complimentary night B&B at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC.

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC offers luxurious accommodation located in the heart of England. All the contemporary style and simple elegance you need and on the doorstep of the NEC!

This could be a great Christmas present, so get bidding!

Lot 7 – Exclusive tickets to the Donington World Superbike Race

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all racing fans!

Xerox, as proud sponsors of the Donington World Superbike Race, has generously donated two limited tickets for the race on 6 & 7 September 2008.

Your tickets will include:

- Exclusive entrance into the Official Ducati Xerox Team Marquee (Xerox has only 40 guests on each day). 

- Xerox customers and guests sit with the Ducati Team, in a relaxed environment.

- Food consists of an amazing Italian style hot and cold buffet, and tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks available all day.

- Unique garage tour to see the team in action

- Items of merchandise

- Pit Lane pass - At an allocated time you will have access to walk up and down the pit lane and look into other team garages and get autographs.

- Photo opportunities with the riders and team

- Tour of the Junior Team Garage. The Ducati Xerox Junior Superstock Team are our riders of the future who compete in the Superstock 1000 Cup.

You can’t buy these tickets! Don’t miss out. Make your bid!

Lot 8 – One night stay at the exclusive Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire

The Grove, located in the South of England, has everything you’d expect from a grand luxury country house hotel - but with a twist.  The service is genuinely welcoming and friendly, certainly not stuffy.  The Grove’s unique style is a mix of traditional elegance and hip, contemporary design which they call “groovy grand”.

With 300 acres of park and woodlands, an award-winning spa, world championship golf course and three restaurants, there are so many reasons to get into The Grove.

Hotelbrokers (HBI), has donated a one-night stay for two people at the luxurious The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire. Your package will include:

· One night’s stay for two people in a superior room at The Grove Hotel

· Breakfast for two people

This could be a chance to spoil the special someone in your life or maybe get away from it all and play a round of golf at their championship golf course for the weekend.

** This offer is only valid until 31^st December 2008

Lot 9 – Platinum Table at the CRN Channel Awards 2008

The Channel Awards, now in its 15th year, is the industry’s most prestigious and respected event. The awards reflect and acknowledge the strength, adaptability and resilience of the companies operating within the channel. The awards night itself is quite simply the biggest night of the year for the IT industry in the UK.

This lot includes one platinum table to the awards for 10 guests including:

Champagne & canapé VIP welcome reception
10 bottles of house wine
2 magnum bottles of champagne
5 bottles of mineral water
3 course meal and coffee
After dinner liquors
Exclusive entertainment at your table

It normally retails at £3,495, so get your wallets ready!!

Lot 10 - Cricket Bat signed by Six former England Captains

This could be your chance to own a cricket bat signed by six English cricketing legends including:

Graham Gooch

Ian Botham

Alec Stewart

Mike Gatting

Mike Atherton

Nasser Hussain

Together, these cricketing superstars amassed more than 40,000 test runs, won Ashes series and represent the finest cricketing talents of their generations.

This lot has been donated generously by Matchpoint the specialists in hospitality across the range of major sports and arts events throughout the UK, Mainland Europe and Australia.

If you are a cricket fan, this is a must-have!

Lot 11 – 4 x VIP Hospitality Tickets to the British Golf Open at Royal Birkdale

The Open Championship is one of the world's greatest sporting events and not only could you be there, but you could be there in style!

Match Point, the specialist in corporate hospitality, has donated four VIP hospitality tickets for the British Open on Sunday 20 July.

Your VIP hospitality includes:

* Course admission badge

* Itinerary with maps and directions

* Reserved tables within the official on site hospitality area (Private tables for 8-12 guests)

* Morning coffee and bacon rolls

* Four course luncheon

* Afternoon tea

* Champagne reception prior to lunch

* Selected fine wines with lunch

* Complimentary bar throughout the day

* Championship program per guest

* Daily draw sheet, results and tee-off times

* Reserved car parking pass (1 pass per 4 guests)

* Event managers and hostesses in attendance

* Courtesy umbrellas

* Courtesy binoculars

Can you afford to miss out on this exceptional experience?

 

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Getting ready to rumble..

So the long awaited CRN Fight Night is a mere 48 hours away.  All the contenders are probably beginning to get a little 'stage fright' by now. 

If you're wondering what's happening on the big night, here's the running order: (The Saint takes his turn in the ring for the 3rd fight of the evening)

RED: Jason 'The Tosh Destroyer' Phillips V BLUE: Nick ‘The Hack’ Booth
RED: Paul 'The Hammer' Harvey V BLUE: Steve 'Mean - Time' Mason
RED: Andy' The SAINT' Sayers V BLUE: Billy “The Raging” Turnbull

Dinner

RED: Mike 'The Madman' Cumby V BLUE: Gary 'The G-Man' Olive
RED: Jamie 'Gentleman Jim’ Stewart V BLUE: Adrian 'The Machine' Sunderland
RED: Ross 'The Rossinator' Woodhurst V BLUE: Darren ‘Silverback’ Clare
RED: Stuart “ The Judgment “ Jarvis  V BLUE: Andy “The Punisher” Butterfield
RED: Zac ‘the educator’ Phillips V BLUE: Steve 'Easy' Vaughan

The evening kicks off at 1830 with a Champagne Reception.  The First Bell for the first 3 fights of the evening is at 19:00 followed by the first round of Auctions and Dinner is served at 20:10.  At 21:30 the Second Bell is rung for the remaining fights and further auctions.  The Bar opens at 23:00 with Carriages at 01:00.

So you wanna be a boxer...

As Andy 'The Saint' Sayers continues his training for the remaining few days before the big Fight Night, here are a few tips on ringside lingo:

'Southpaw' - a left handed boxer (leads with his right hand).  It seems that the term actually originates from Baseball - a lefty player literally using his south facing 'paw' - and was adopted by boxers.

'Orthodox' - a right handed boxer

'Queensbury Rules' - the code of generally accepted rules in boxing and named after the 9th Marquess of Queensberry who endorsed the code.  Both professional and amateur boxing matches abide by the rules that were originally written by John Graham Chambers in 1865 and published in 1867 as 'the Queensberry rules for the sport of boxing."

'Below the belt' - an illegal strike between a line from the navel to the top of the hips.

'Block' - when someone obstructs their opponent's punch with some part of their own arm or hand.

'Break' - the referee can instruct boxers to break apart from holding onto one another instead of throwing punches (known as a clinch).

'Cut men' - they're the chaps who help between rounds to patch up the boxers when they're hurt

'Standing eight-count' - a count of 8 from the referee to decide whether a boxer is fit to continue.

Click here for international boxing news

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You are what you eat!

One of the down sides to the amount of exercise that Andy has been doing throughout his training is that he's in danger of being permanently hungry!

With the level of fitness that Andy's been trying to achieve it's been important for him to have the right balance of nutrition and fluids.  An average guy of his height and weight should be looking to take in a daily calorie allowance of around 2,500 Kcal.  Boxing eats through calories at an amazing 1035 calories per hour.  Combine that with 518 calories being lost through an hour of weight training and a further 690 calories spent on sit-ups and press-ups and with all that exertion, you need plenty of carbs and protein to keep you going.

Andy is unable to eat foods with gluten in them so that means having to say no to pasta, bread, pastry, biscuits, some sauces or anything else made with flour. 

Alcohol too has been restricted and regular tea and coffee have been replaced by Green Tea or Camomile Tea.

To counter the extremes of his training regime, Andy has been ensuring that he eats plenty of protein.  Not only does this help with the development and repair of muscle tone but also helps him not to feel hungry quite so quickly.  For those of you who've ever tried the Atkins diet, you'll know that when you eat foods that are high in protein, like fish, chicken, nuts and eggs, it helps you to feel fuller for longer.

Andy uses Maximuscle products to help him monitor and maintain his dietary needs.  He mixes Maximuscle Promax powder into a protein-shake to boost his protein intake between meals.  Similarly, a Maximuscle meal supplement bar adds precious nutrients to help Andy cope with the rigours of training. 

If, like Andy, you train really hard you'll know that you sweat a lot too.  To keep his fluid levels balanced, Andy will drink between 4 and 6 litres of water a day depending on his training schedule and that's not including cups of Green Tea! 

Becoming 'The Saint' has had plenty of challenges for Andy but he's shown he has the commitment, determination and will-power to succeed. 

If you have a message of support for Andy or haven't had time to make a donation please get in touch - every little bit helps!

Click here to send an email to 'The Saint'!

 

Technorati Tags: diet,protein,power of protein,maximuscle,protein shake,balanced,recovery,calories,fluids,carbs,nutrition,boxing,gluten,coeliac

More local businesses show their support

With a little under 2 weeks to go before Andy 'The Saint' Sayers steps into the ring, Sam Clemons has been in touch from his family run business, Hortus Ligneous, in Melton Mowbray.

Hortus Ligneous use traditional methods of construction to produce bespoke exterior timber products. By using quality materials and techniques handed down through three generations they have become one of the finest gate manufacturers in the county.

Sam's wife, Charlotte, runs the highly successful and much acclaimed Jumping Beanz fitness clubs for children.

This enterprising couple have made a donation to show their support for Andrew's fundraising efforts and  have taken time out of their busy schedules to wish him lots of luck and success on May 29th.

"Andrew's dedication to his training has been phenomenal.  Everyone at Hortus Ligneous and Jumping Beanz looks forward to seeing a winning result for 'The Saint' "  Sam & Charlotte Clemons

 

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Training: WEEK TEN

As the big day looms ever closer, here's another peak at Andy's training diary:

"What a week! As I write this I am very sore from training and I’ve still got my run to do this evening. With my overall fitness much improved the main focus has been on sparring against opponents of various sizes, styles and abilities.

Most of my sparring partners have turned out to be more experienced boxers than me, so it’s been tough and I have to confess to feeling a little battered and bruised. Overall I think I acquitted myself quite well.

The combinations are starting to work and speed, timing and power have definitely improved. Still plenty to work on but with 4 weeks to go it’s coming together.

My trainer, Ben Doughty, is happy with where we are and that’s encouraging too.

Some people have even started asking me what I'll do when the big fight is over, will I keep boxing? All I can think about is May 29th at the moment but I think I'm going to miss this level of competitive sport."

If you've got a suggestion about what 'The Saint' should do after May 29th, have your say and leave a comment after this post...all publishable comments will appear on the blog! Should he hang up his gloves or is there something else he should turn his talents too?

Training: WEEK NINE

Back from the US, Andy is training hard:

"After a week away in California (jet lag hit hard on both outward and return journeys), it’s amazing how quickly my boxing conditioning has tailed off! Whilst my cardio efforts seem intact, my sparring was incredibly hard work in session 1 this week. My arms and shoulders really have felt the pace. That said, I should point out that I was up against an extremely fit and more experienced opponent.. surprisingly, the bout went very well. I took a few good shots but landed my fair share and boxed well behind the jab. See, I can even talk like a boxer now 'Arry!

Session 2 was much tougher with additional sparring rounds and boxing drills that left me completely drained.

We’re now on the run in to the big night now and I know the training will intensify further still as the bout approaches. The adrenalin has definitely kicked in and yet, strangely, I’m enjoying it all."

STOP PRESS..Andy 'The Saint' Sayers makes the News!

The media have been quick to pick up on Andy's story. The Rutland Times was the first to highlight the extraordinary lengths that Andy is going to in order to raise funds for his sons' school.

Next came a piece in The Rutland Mercury which was swiftly followed by an article in The Rutland Messenger.

If you'd like to be kept up to date with FREE email bulletins straight to your inbox, please click the following link:
Subscribe to Andy 'The Saint' Sayers by Email

Training: WEEK EIGHT

The Saint looks back on a trip to the US:

"My eighth week of training was spent in the US at the BakBone sales & marketing kick off event in San Diego. We were kept very busy from early in the morning until late each day. I was hoping to be able to make use of a boxing gym whilst I was there but unfortunately I had to make do with the hotel gym instead. The specialist boxing gym I had found was just too far away to fit in training sessions with the time available. That said, I was able to use the well appointed hotel gym first thing every day so I managed lots of running and plenty of weights.

It was about 30 degrees in San Diego which was a very pleasant change from the cold and rainy weather I'd left at home in England. Being followed, whilst walking to the gym one morning, by a humming bird was almost surreal! California is a great place to visit if you get the chance.

The week away from sparring has given some niggling injuries time to heal and, overall, I don’t think it has set me back. But we’ll see when I get back into it next week!"

Local Karate Club Shows Support

The Sensei Bassett Black Belt Academy are proud to support Andy 'The Saint' Sayers and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School.

The Sensei Bassett Black Belt Academy is well known to many of the pupils at English Martyrs - Andy's sons both regularly attend the packed classes. The Oakham based Karate club is hugely popular amongst both boys and girls and is dedicated to providing Karate for children between the ages of 6 and 16 years old.

As part of the United Kingdom Martial Arts Federation, Josh Bassett's successful Acadamy runs classes at the Vale of Catmose College, Cold Overton Road, Oakham, four times a week. Each session combines an exciting range of fitness and karate training that helps to improve self-discipline, concentration, fitness and self-esteem. Many of the children regularly win trophies and awards at Karate competitions and tournaments.

If your children would like to join this very popular Karate academy, please visit their website (http://www.senseibassett.co.uk/)
or please call 07769 65 33 58 for more details.

You're The Greatest - Muhammed Ali

Andy has admired the boxing legend, Muhammed Ali, long before he ever thought he'd be fighting in the ring himself.

And so, as a treat for all of you who are supporting Andy, here's a wonderful clip of the Great Man himself (Ali, not Andy!) being interviewed by our national treasure Sir Michael Parkinson.

(Watch out for the famous Ali shuffle at 4.25 - quite something!)

Enjoy!

Exciting Times

Online fundraising for Andy's charity, Friends of English Martyrs, has now started in earnest. Our first donation from the U.S. came in early this morning but many more of you from the U.K. and Europe have been logging on and making online donations throughout the week.

Our largest online donation to date has been for £100.00. The Gift Aid on that amount alone was £28.21, creating a massive single donation of £128.21 ...

So the gauntlet has been thrown down guys and gals ... who can beat that figure??

Make a donation, make a difference!

Thank you.

Training: WEEK SEVEN

As you read this, Andy is in San Diego, California, but we managed to prize open his training diary and take a peek....

"Things are going well and I'm feeling pretty good at the moment.

There's obviously still lots to work on but some of the things I’ve been finding tricky have now fallen into place and each session is seeing obvious progress.

The main issue at the moment is a lack of variety of sparring partners due to the times I’ve been able to train. Hopefully, I will be able to remedy that over the next few weeks. My fitness levels have continued to improve and I feel like I’ve turned a corner which is a real confidence booster.

There's still a lot to learn and improve on but we still have time to fine tune things.

I’m off to the US for a week soon and will be trying to find a gym there so I don’t lose momentum."

Training: WEEKS FIVE & SIX

Whilst Andy's work commitments have kept him on the road, opportunities to fill in his training diary have been limited. Here's a combination of entries for weeks 5 &6.

"Training sessions are now beginning to take a familiar pattern.

I’m pleased to say that having been frustrated at not being too quick on the uptake (don't all rush to agree!) with some of the movement and combinations that the last few sessions have seen something click. This is good news! I’m not having to think about everything and it’s all starting to feel a lot more natural.

I’m also pleased to report that my level of fitness has turned a corner and I’m getting into the shape required to do 3 hard rounds.

Sparring has moved up a few gears and the first thing Ben does now is to check who else is available in the gym to spar with for a few rounds. Worryingly, though, he doesn’t seem to care whether they’re large or small - apparantly his thought is that it’s about variety and having to deal with whatever’s put in front of me.

All good practice for fight night! "

Support 'The Saint' & Get A Ring-Side Seat

Every great sporting hero has his or her team of supporters and fan club and 'The Saint' is no exception.

If you would like to cheer on Andy in person on the evening of 29th May (at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SD) - here's a SPECIAL OFFER that you can't beat!

• Champagne on arrival at the Welcome Reception


• 3 course meal, mineral water and coffee.


• Half bottle of wine per person


• Plus you can entire the charity auction to bag yourself a souvenir of the night - all proceeds go to the nominated charities of the evening.


• Friends & Family supporter tickets cost £125.00 each

For more details contact: Nathalie Perez - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7316 9586
Event Manager - Business Technology, Group Incisive Media.

We're Ready For Your Donation!

Have a look at our new donation widget!!! (It's at the top of the right hand column)

Launched today, The Saint's online donation facility makes it super easy to make a donation to Friends of English Martyrs. All major credit cards are accepted and if you're a UK tax payer, Gift Aid can be added to your donation to make it even more generous! For example, a £50 donation means an extra £14.10 from the 'Tax Man'! (Don't worry, it's very simple, just follow the instructions.)

Don't forget, Andy 'The Saint' Sayers is doing all the hard work...all you have to do is reach in to your wallet and take a minute to make a donation and leave your message of support.

Make a donation, make a difference!

Thank you.

Training: WEEK FOUR

The latest installment from Andy 'The Saint' Sayers' training diary:

"It's been a tiring week! Week 4 continued where week 3 left off and each workout is becoming increasingly intensive and complex.

As we progress, there is a lot more to think about; more complicated combinations, and I’m generally reduced to rubble by the end of the session. Just when I think it's all over there’s always a little something extra in store as a bonus!

However, on the plus side, there are definite signs of progress at last! Some of the movement is becoming instinctive now, rather than having to be thought about and, for those that know me, you’ll know how that always slows me down a bit (J!). My general fitness is definitely improving, and I can even speak between rounds!

I got to spar with someone new again this week, as I think my trainer, Ben, is getting bored with beating me up. This time it was one of the other trainers, Nigel, who did a great job of letting me tire myself out for 2 rounds before giving me a thorough mauling in the 3rd. Ben continues to show superhuman levels of patience. When tiredness kicks in, the basics go out of the window and I seem to lose the power to take simple instructions, he keeps me going and gets me there."

For those of you keen to experience The Saint's training for yourself. Andy's personal trainer, Ben Doughty, can be contacted at The Ring Gym on 0207 620 1666 for 1:1 personal conditioning training.

Fantastic Start To Fundraising!!!

It's been a hectic few weeks and it has been wonderful to have been contacted by so many of you enquiring about 'The Saint's' progress.

Despite a slight technical hitch with our online donation facility (it's coming soon...promise!) we've been stunned by how many of you have emailed us here at The Saint's HQ to pledge a donation and sponsor Andy's chosen charity (see above).

Whilst we're waiting to be able to accept donations online, you can pledge a donation by sending us an email with your contact details and the amount you wish to donate - please also state whether you would like us to claim Gift Aid on your behalf (UK taxpayers only).

Look to the right of this column at the top and you'll find "Make a Pledge" click on the "Please click here" to send your support email.

We'd also like to add your name to our Roll Call of supporters - so please, get in touch!

Saintly Cars

Something that Andy 'The Saint' Sayers has in common with the original 'Saint' is Volvo.

In the original 1960's 'The Saint' TV show, Roger Moore drove a prestigious, white Volvo P1800 sports car. A number of cars were supplied for the show by Volvo including one for Moore's own personal use. Jaguar had been asked to supply cars for the show but declined and regretted their decision when The Saint became a massive 60's hit. The ST1 number plate was fake and covered the real plate which was NUV 648E - Moore's own Volvo had the plate NUV 647E .

Volvo have come a long way since then and our very own Andy 'The Saint' Sayers owns both a black Volvo S60 and a black Volvo XC90. As those of you who know Andy will appreciate, he covers a huge amount of mileage during his working week and at least his Volvos are in better nick than the P1800s of the TV show which had to be regularly patched up by technicians due to all the stunts they carried out.

Boxing: Interesting Facts

• Before the Marquis of Queensberry rules for Boxing were drawn up in 1867, all prize fights in England and the United States were fought with bare knuckles. Even as late as 1882, the great John L. Sullivan, then Boxing champion of the world, rarely fought wearing gloves.
  
• Muhammad Ali was known for fighting with his hands held low, even down byhis waist. But Aaron Brown "The Dixie Kid" was the first man to fight in this style.
  
• If you think George Foreman is tough, Herbert Odom was 46 years old in 1979 when he boxed his FIRST pro fight and won in two rounds!
  
• The first boxing club was established in 1814, it was the Pugilistic Club, London.
  
• Ever wonder where the phrase "Is it the real McCoy" came from? Back inthe 1890's Charles "Kid" McCoy was a master at tricking his opponents into believing he was ill or in difficulty. Consequently people were never sure wether he was realy hurt, ill or faking. Thus the saying "Is it the real McCoy" was born.
  
• Did you know that the inventor of the rocket, George Stephenson, used to box and even took part in prizefights. I guess this proves boxers are smarter than most of us give them credit for.

With grateful thanks to SaddoBoxing.com

Training: WEEK THREE

This week's instalment from The Saint's training diary:

"Week 3 continued with sparring. Just when I felt I was getting the hang of it my patient but fearsome trainer, Ben, decided to shake it up a bit and raised the work rate higher still in the 2nd session.

I’m sure this must be a good thing but I was left somewhat wobbly all the same.

The basics are coming on, but I’m still feeling a little uncoordinated and not all of it is coming as naturally as I’d like. But there’s no doubt I have more of a clue than last week so we have progress!

Looking forward to week 4."

Training: WEEK TWO

Here's another snippet from The Saint's Training Diary:

"Week 2 started with the introduction of sparring. This gave the opportunity to try to put into practice the basics introduced in week 1. Easier said than done! It’s much harder than you’d think to concentrate when you’re getting hit!

The cardio effort required during sparring is enormous and I’m still struggling to get up to speed. It really is exhausting! My basic fitness is improving though but 3x 2 minute rounds is proving a surprisingly tough proposition at the moment. By the end of it I can hardly hold my arms up.

So, lots of work to be done but I feel I’m improving with each session."

FREEBIE!

It's easy to keep up to date with all The Saint's training progress, photos, competitions and fundraising news.

Go to the box, on the right hand side, where it says 'FREE Email Bulletins', enter your email address, click subscribe and follow the simple instructions.

You'll receive all the latest information about the The Saint straight to your inbox. It's FREE and we do all the hard work back at The Saint's HQ.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now for your FREE Email Bulletins now!

The Patience of a Saint

Some of you may be wondering how does an ordinary chap like Andy become not only fit enough to box but convincing enough to enter the ring in front of his peers?

Andy's secret is none other than CityBoxer trainer Ben Doughty. Boxing since he was 10 years old, Ben is also a coach at the famous Repton Boxing Club.... and a bit of a film star! See the video clip below to see Ben in action on the Mitsubishi L200 commercial. I'm sure you'd agree - not someone to mess with!

Training: WEEK ONE

A little later than planned, here's The Saint's review of the first week of training:
"The training has started in earnest. Week one has seen the introduction of the basics –

Stance - Movement - Basic punches required - A look at combining the shots

And Defence was also examined along with use of the available space in the ring.

Skipping was a new addition in session 2 which saw lots of tangling of feet and rope. Boxing is surprisingly technical!

The fitness requirements for the sport have started to hit home. The mercifully short sessions are very intense and truly exhausting and leave the body very sore and fatigued. All in all, though, it's been an interesting week with so much more to learn.

At the end of week one The Saint has come to the conclusion that at the moment he 'stings like a butterfly and floats like a brick'

…. Roll on week 2!"

The Saint starts a trend!

Following The Saint's lead, UK soul star Lemar and GMTV presenter Ben Shephard will do battle in this year's Sport Relief Celebrity Boxing.

The duo will receive training advice from Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton and follow a gruelling fitness regime just like our very own Andy 'The Saint' Sayers. Both boxers have weighed in at exactly 13 stones but Lemar has a 3 inch height advantage which could prove tricky for Shephard.

The self styled 'Showtime Shephard' and 'Soul Destroyer Lemar' have a lot of work to do before their head-to-head match on March 14th.

Meanwhile, keep a look out on the blog for news of how The Saint's first week of training went....

Want to know more but were afraid to ask?

If 'The Saint's' antics have rekindled a desire to find out more about boxing, and to perhaps even participate in the rigorous training involved in this sport, then have a look at the following links:

• BBC Sport there's tons of interesting information on the BBC's portal for all things 'boxing'. The site includes a Tips and Tactics Section, where to find your local boxing club, plus all the latest boxing news from around the world.
• The Boxing-Forum is a place for exchanging views and information with other like minded souls. If you want to swap ideas about stamina training, talk about health and safety issues in the sport, or just reminisce and eulogise about the great legends of boxing then this is the place for you.
• Talking of the legends, take a look at Boxing Biographies if you're interested in learning more about them.

Whatever you do, don't forget to come back and visit 'The Saint's' blog and signup to the FREE email bulletins.

Entering the Ring...

Please give a warm welcome to

Andy ..'The Saint'..Sayers !!!

Andy Sayers, otherwise known as Strategic Alliances Director at BakBone Software, has taken up the challenge and entered the CRN Fight Night taking place on 29th May 2008.

His training has begun in earnest and he regularly pounds the streets in a variety of European cities whilst away on business. During his recent trip to Frankfurt he ran so far he had to ask for directions back to his hotel ... someone send this guy a Sat-Nav!!

Andy's commitment to this challenge is unshakable. His fitness schedule already contains regular training sessions at the state of the art, private boxing club based at CityBoxer in Southwark, London.

Sign up to the FREE email bulletins to keep up to date with Andy's progress.

Remember you can play Football, you can play Rugby

but you can't play Boxing!!

Square Up!

On 29th May 2008, 16 contenders will fight it out in the ring at the Brewery, Chiswell Street, in the City of London to raise money for a host of worthy charities. Over the past few weeks aspiring boxers have been put through their paces at the world famous Ring Boxing Club in Southwark and bouts will be announced shortly.

In conjunction with Cityboxer, contestants have been undergoing a rigorous 3 month training regime with a personal trainer at the world famous Ring Boxing Club in Southwark. The 16 contenders are a force to be reckoned with; resellers, distributors and vendors from the IT industry.

The evening, hosted by CRN will be accompanied by a three-course black tie dinner and charity auction. If you’d like to throw your hat in to the ring and be a part of a phenomenal event, please call the CRN Sponsorship Sales team for information on Table Bookings and Sponsorship Opportunities on T: 020 7316 9733.

If your company is interested in donating a prize for the CRN Channel Fight Night 2008, please contact Nathalie.perez@incisivemedia.com. All monies raised from the prize draw will be divided between charities nominated by the contenders.