Politician hopes he can
UKIP MEP TO TAK TO THE RING IN BRUSING SCRAP
Arnott in action - he hopes to box clever A BREXIT punch up between a North East UKIP MEP and a Lib Dem activist is to take place on Saturday night.
The clash is being staged at the iconic York Hall boxing venue in Bethnal Green, London.
In the blue corner will be UKIP’s Jonathan ‘ The Tactician’ Arnott. And in the ‘yellow’ corner will be Toby ‘Slowby’ White.
But it is no ordinary fight - it’s a ‘Chessboxing’ challenge which is as much about brains as brawn.
Opponents alternate between three minute sessions of speed chess and two minute rounds of boxing - with one minute in between to remove or put on their gloves - until there is a winner by checkmate or KO, whichever comes first.
Mr Arnott, a keen chess player who made the England Under-21 squad, is hoping to raise £3,000 for ACT for SMA (the Ally Cadence Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy) by taking part.
He was inspired to look into doing it through Chessboxing after a chat with a pal about the unusual ‘sport’.
Mr Arnott said: “I had a brief phone call with the London Chessboxing Association, and it turns out they loved the idea of having a politician on their next show.”
That was in January and now just over two months later - and after losing at least two and half stone in weight because of his training regime - he will be stepping into the ring.
He said: “It’s been a big culture shock for me. I’m a mathematician by trade and more at home on the chess board.”
His opponent, Toby White, is a veteran of two previous Chessboxing bouts and is reportedly looking for payback after campaigning unsuccessfully for the Remain campaign last Summer.
Mr Arnott added: “I