Annual Fight Night, Dave Payne and The Hardest Fight

On Saturday the 5th of November, four hard men of the ring went head to head at the Annual Fight Night held in Dave Payne’s gym in Playa Bastian Costa Teguise not far from Sands Beach Resort.

Annual Fight Night featured a programme consisting of two thrilling battles. There was nothing to separate Bob Hoskins and David Timmo in the first whilst Brian Timmo Junior took the honours against Mark Preston in the second bout.

Although Annual Fight Night offers a hit for boxing fans on holiday or living in Lanzarote, one of the most interesting things about it is the gym where it’s held, or more accurately its inspirational owner, boxer Dave Payne.

At 71 he’s still a rock of a man and known and respected, apart from his boxing skills, for the work he does teaching young people on the island discipline and a code of conduct using boxing and training at his gym as tools.

Last year Dave was the subject of a mesmerising short film by the immensely talented photographer  and film-maker John Hicks. The Hardest Fight is just over three minutes long yet packs a punch as hard as one of Dave Payne’s bare knucklers.

Anyone from 14 years and up is welcome to train at Dave’s gym, whether professional or beginner, English or Spanish speaker. He’s open from 9am to 7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 11am to 1pm on Saturdays.

If you want to find out more about the gym or this charismatic ‘film star’ boxer, call Dave on +34 639 987 629  or send an email to davepaynegym@hotmail.co.uk

Annual Fight Night Photos by James Mitchell