Wall Street trend loved by charities & celebs

WHITE Collar boxing bouts emerged in New York in the 1990s and rapidly spread round the world.

Enthusiasts were often Wall Street financial workers who traded shares by day and blows by night.

Its popularity is thought to have increased with 1999 film Fight Club starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The sport now covers a range of charity, celebrity and black tie events.

The bouts have been criticised by official bodies who are concerned about safety and medical standards.

In June 2014, Lance FergusonPrayogg, 32, from Liverpool, died from kidney failure two days after a white collar fight in Nottingham.

But many celebs have continued to step into the ring for charity.

This year’s Sport Relief featured a clash between Wayne Bridge and Spencer Matthews, and Helen Skelton took on Love Island’s Camilla Thurlow.