John Gibson: Lenny's glad to keep on punching

Done it once. Such a success that he's going to do it again. Lenny Hughes, the Carlton's general manager, staged its inaugural boxing show last month, raising £3500 for Help for Heroes. A 4-4 draw between Leith Victoria Amateur Boxing Club and the Army.

"A spectator that night was so impressed that he wants us to convert our 200-capacity banqueting suite again into a boxing 'arena' for one evening for various charities," says Lenny. "He will turn 'promoter' for the occasion and he has chosen a significant date in the 11th of the 11th month.

"It's not generally known that this hotel, now the Spanish-owned Barcelo Carlton, became a hospital for the military though the Second World War.''

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Nor is it public knowledge that Mr Hughes, then sporting a Livingston Amateur Club vest, was picked to box for Scotland 13 years ago. Then 15 stones and boxing at light-heavyweight.

"But I was making my way in hotel management and my job took precedence over a trip to Wales with the Scotland team."

Among other innovations he has introduced at the Carlton, he has tinkered with the building's floodlighting. He turned it pink for the Moon Walk Weekend.

Details later about the November boxing. Room for 200 ringsiders, and he won't be sending tickets to Gaddafi.

Afterwords . .

. . . He's got the Taliban shaking in their sandals. All a-quiver. They've just seen Thursday's papers carrying the latest snaps of Prince Harry kitted out in his battle costume by his wardrobe master. Back on the warpath. Most impressive he looked, too, with his Apache helicopter gunship already revving up in a world far removed from his Derby Day topper and tails. Take care of yourself, son.

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