Co-owner of Auckland’s Urge bar Alan Granville has spent the last twelve weeks preparing for the “toughest physical test of his life” – three two-minute rounds in a boxing ring in front of at least 700 people. “Just six minutes, that's all I am training for. There will be blood, sweat, tears and more than likely a lot of puke for just six minutes of action,” he writes in his training blog. Twelve weeks ago he had never stepped into a boxing ring, but Granville, 33, says he needed a challenge – and to shift some mid-30’s flab – and was encouraged to join ‘White Collar’ boxing at Auckland’s Ringside Gym. His training regime involved two personal training sessions a week, yoga, sparring, grading, swimming, running, trackwork and endurance training, and nutritionist meetings. “The nerves have moved up a notch as the reality of the situation sinks in,” he says this week. “Butterflies have taken up permanent residency in my stomach and have been fluttering violently over the last couple of days.” Granville says he now has two camera crews following him around for the last few days, as well as a press conference at Sky City and a photo shoot planned for Saturday. The fight takes place at 7pm this Saturday, 16th June at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds. Granville’s ‘Porker to Pugilist’ page on TVNZ.co.nz are on the links below. Related links: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1182497 Ref: GayNZ.com, TVNZ (m)