ALFIE BURDEN has swapped a cue ball for a medicine ball as he trains for a boxing ring debut next month. 

The 36-year-old Londoner has a world snooker ranking of 39th and will be battling to move even higher at the forthcoming UK Championships in York.
But he has another date firmly in his mind just a few days before that tournament kicks off as he will be climbing into the ring on November 23.
Burden will fulfil a dream he has always had of boxing, when he fights at the City Pavilion in Dagenham on an Independent Boxing Association bill as a semi-professional.
He told me: “I am really enjoying the training – even though I have been getting beaten up occasionally during sparring.
“It is certainly completely different from the snooker world.
“I just hope that I don’t get two playing snooker in the UK Champs just a few days after the fight and it won’t look too good on TV.”




      

Burden’s interest in boxing was sparked by a TV programme involving two snooker players back in 2004.
He explained: “Quinten Hann and Mark King had their ‘Pot Whack’ fight in that year and my cousin trained Quinten and I did some sparring and fitness with him.
“I was actually due to fight Ali Carter as part of the same bill but that fell through in the end.
“Ever since then, I have wanted to give boxing a try as it will be such an adrenaline rush. I just need to get used to being hit on the nose.”
Burden has always been a sporty character and looked destined to be a Premier League footballer until an horrific injury cut short his career.
He played in the Arsenal academy team against the likes of Frank Lampard and Lee Bowyer before joining Swindon, then managed by Glenn Hoddle.

      

But he recalled: “I broke my leg in four places on a pre-season tour and that was the end of those Premier League dreams.”
Now another dream beckons, with Burden saying: “I just want to have a fight now and see how it goes.
“You never know, it may lead to other bouts.”
He is being trained by Alan Mortlock who said: “He is as raw as eggs but does everything I tell him and has so much determination.
“Alfie has only been with me for six weeks and it’s clear that he has all the necessary tools. I have been very impressed by him.”