PUGILISTS could be pulling on their gloves if boxing matches are allowed to take place at Harrow Leisure Centre.

Sports and Leisure Management, the operator of the complex in Christchurch Avenue, Wealdstone, on behalf of owner Harrow Council, applied to the council on Friday for a minor variation of its premises licence to allow live fights to take place in the sports arena.

Public consultation on the change ends on February 28 - but already a professional boxing night at the venue is being advertised on posters in boxing gyms around London and online for the very next day.

The event on Saturday March 1 is being organised by Warrior Promotions.

There are nine match-ups on the card include the headline bout between Danny Murphy and Ahmet Patterson for the International Masters welterweight title.

A council spokeswoman said: “SLM are in the very early stages of planning an event.”

Harrow Amateur Boxing Club - whose Shelly Sweeney recently became the Amateur Boxing Association of England National Schoolgirl Champion in the 56kg weight category - trains at the centre and used to hold fights there in the past.