Regional newspaper editor Nigel Pickover has begun what he calls the “toughest fight of his life” – which will end with him facing a world champion in a boxing ring.

Nigel, of the Evening Star in Ipswich, has set himself a target of losing almost two stone, and has begun a fitness regime with the help of a sports coach.

And there will be no hiding place on his mission because as well as writing about his progress in-paper and online, Nigel will be pulling punches against world karate champion Davin Pack in a boxing match at the end of the year.

The former World under 21 double Commonwealth and European medallist has agreed to a sparring session with the editor at the Millennium Boxing Club in Ipswich to help him with his goal.

Nigel (left) with Davin

Nigel, (51), told HoldtheFrontPage: “He is a mean performer. In a sense it won’t be a full-on fight but it is something to work towards and will make for some interesting pictures.”

Nigel said he was reasonably fit with no health worries, but his weight had crept up since he gave up smoking 12 years ago, prompting him to sign up with sports coach Nino Severino, who trains athletes.

He said: “A recent medical said I am basically okay, but suggested I could lose some weight, so I decided to enlist expert help.

“I want to get from 14st 10lbs to 13st, to change my lifestyle for the second half of my life, and if I can do it, anyone can!

“I’m lucky in that making this adventure public, will motivate me not to let people down, but unlucky in that I’ve got some damned hard work ahead.

“Let’s see where the journey goes – and failure is not an option!”

As a further incentive, Nigel is asking readers to sponsor him, with the money raised going to the Star’s Somebody’s Daughter campaign to create a drop-in centre to help people involved with drugs away from a life of crime, in the wake of five prostitutes being killed in Ipswich last year.