CONTENDER Gym fighters Dan Carr and Dan Blackwell have been recognised for their unwavering dedication to boxing after both being nominated for the Best Supporting Boxer gong at the 2014 British Boxing Board of Control Southern Area Awards.

The Trowbridge duo are among a host of nominees from the whole of Southern England who have been invited to an awards ceremony at the Grange City Hotel in London on March 15.

Light-welterweight Carr, 26, who is already the veteran of 57 professional fights, fits in his boxing career alongside his full-time work at local scrap metal merchants EJ Shanley & Son and says he has no problems coping with the demands of his busy schedule.

“I work full-time and the scrapyard is just around the corner from the gym, so I go and train on my lunch break every day,’’ said Carr, who was in action against Thomas Stalker at the Copper Box Arena last weekend and is due to take on Chris Evangelou at York Hall tomorrow night.

“Sometimes, I’ll have to work on the day of a fight, then travel to London or wherever, have a few hours’ sleep, and then get in the ring.

“I don’t mind it at all. My job is to go out there and make it tough for debutants and teach them what the pro game is all about.

“Some boxers are worried about what colour shorts they’ll be wearing and things like that but I just get on with it – I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, any time.

“Sometimes I’ve taken fights with a day’s notice but that’s just the way it is.”

Blackwell, 20, who works as a bricklayer, has 32 pro bouts to his name and the middleweight, who stepped into the ring with London 2012 Olympic medallist Anthony Ogogo last December, wasn’t expecting his nomination.

“It was a bit of a shock but it’s a good thing. You don’t really get a lot of recognition as a journeyman,” said Blackwell, who is the younger brother of two-time British middleweight title challenger Nick.

“You’re always taking fights at short notice and you’re not expected to win a lot of the time, so you have to spend a lot of time making sure you’re ready to fight all the time.

“I’m always in the gym and I’m always ready to go.”

Contender Gym trainer Mark Kent added: “I think they’ve both been put up for their services to boxing and it’s great to see the pair of them getting praised.”

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