A pro-am boxing bonanza to raise money for a local mental health charity will be held in Swindon later this month.

The event, with a Commonwealth title fight as its centre-piece, will see professional bouts alongside amateur fights, and will raise money for Phoenix Enterprises.

A total of 12 bouts, featuring children from the age of 11 right through to senior fighters, will take place over the course of the afternoon and evening of September 23. The title fight sees Bristol’s Ashley Lane fight Michael Ramabeletsa for the Commonwealth super-bantamweight title.

Mark Neilson, of Neilson Boxing, who are promoting the event, said: “In the afternoon we’ve got 10 amateur fights, with a Swindon v London select. Then we have professional boxing on in the evening.

“We’re the first promoters ever to host a pro-am in Swindon. Because it went so well and we raised some money for local charities, we thought we’d do it again.

“Swindon is a fighting town. There are some great fighters coming out of here so we just wanted to take the opportunity to give something back.”

A selection of young fighters from Gipsy Lane’s Horseshoe ABC, including an English champion, 12-year-old Karem Aujala, will be taking part in the afternoon fights.

Brian Robert, head coach at the club, said: “It’s great for boxing. We have done one pro-am already, and we want to build on that.

“It will give the young amateurs a great outlook to see where they can go. We’ve got six boxers on and there are 12 bouts altogether.”

Like all staff at the gym, Brian is unpaid, and it is in that spirit of giving something back to the community that the event will be raising funds for Phoenix Enterprises, a social enterprise who support training and employment opportunities for people in the Swindon area with mental health issues.

Emma Rees, chair of the charity, said: “We are delighted to have again been chosen as the charity of choice for the Neilson Boxing show later this month.

“Mental health issues can strike anyone at any time, and the world of boxing has had some very high-profile former world champions who have bravely spoken publicly about their battles with depression and other issues.

“Pheonix provides a vital safety net in Swindon, providing a friendly, supportive environment where local people who are experiencing long- or short-term mental health issues, or who have learning difficulties, can start to get structure back into their daily lives and improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.”

The pro-am boxing night will take place at the PlayFootball Arena in Kembrey Park on September 23. Tickets are available from £15 for amateur-only entry, through to £600 for a VIP ringside table. They can be bought on 0793 833 468, or at info@neilsonboxing.co.uk.