South Yorkshire fighters reveal boxing's harsh realities
The stress of boxing doesn’t just come in the ring as these local fighters explain
The hardest part about boxing isn't always being punched in the face or body.
For many fighters, the weeks and months leading up to the fight prove just as punishing.
Small hall competitors who are not shielded by top promoters face the bruising financial challenge of having to sell thousands of pounds worth of tickets.
Even more dreaded is the sickening moment when a scheduled opponent suddenly pulls out with days to go.
Sheffield's Bree Wright has experienced that several times.
The Jason Cunningham-trained super welterweight had been due to compete for a Commonwealth title this coming weekend, but her opponent suddenly became unavailable.
Bree, 30, has talked about how stressful it is having to "sell all these tickets, trying to put bums on seats to make the fight happen - you have got to pay a dumpling to come over and have a fight. It makes it hard graft...it takes over your head sometimes."
She adds that she has personally had: "A lot of bad luck in past seven months - three fights fell through through no fault of my own, it’s frustrating sport at times but all I can do is control what is on me.
"I’ve kept working and kept consistent. It’s been a long road but I’m grateful for every day. The work is never wasted; we just keep learning and building."
Doncaster heavyweight Joshua Simms has also gone public about the "depressing" obstacles that fighters have to overcome before they enter the ring.
On a social media post, he wrote about "the harsh reality of small hall professional boxing that the every day person wouldn't know.
"People think because you're a professional athlete you must be killing it, which just isn't the case for most and we do it for the love of the sport hoping someday soon a big one will come in" he wrote.
"These numbers (costs) dramatically increase in the heavyweight division unfortunately for me, so when you see me pushing tickets, calling out for sponsors and annoying everyone with multiple posts a week just remember it costs thousands to box before we earn a penny and that is why ticket sales and sponsorships are so important.
"On that depressing note, I would like to invite everyone I know to purchase tickets to come watch me box on a nice and local home show at the Doncaster Dome, July 25."
It was a "stacked card full of local Yorkshire fighters" with fellow heavyweight David Allen topping the bill, he said.
Simms' description of the hidden side of boxing chimes with a Star interview recently with Mikey Harrison, from Ridgeway, Sheffield.
The light heavyweight described the difficult routine of having to cover the opponent's fee before he can even think about earning anything himself.
He told The Star: "I have to sell tickets to cover what the away fighter wants. I have to pay his expenses too - travel from London, food and two nights in a hotel."
Boxers are often irritated when asked if they are in the sport for money.
The truth is that few make much - and many fall by the wayside despite their dedication to training and their skill and courage in the ring.
Hopefully the likes of Bree, Joshua and Mikey - and many more across South Yorkshire - won't be in that group.