THIS is Michael Evans's final sparring session before he walks through the ropes for his third professional boxing contest on tonight.
The Brentwood super middleweight, 24, has been taking part in a gruelling training programme and has even been taking a little bit of inspiration from the famous Rocky films in the build-up.
"I run up the steps on the front at Leigh-On-Sea," he says.
"It's a bit like Rocky, well something like that anyway! It's not quite the same is it?!
"I've been sparring on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, running up to six miles in the evenings, doing circuits, pad and ground work and swimming at the Brentwood Centre."
As he pounds away on his trainer's pads in preparation for his latest bout, in a career that he hopes will eventually result in national and international belts, it looks as though the training's paying off.
"I've really been putting the work in and I'm just grateful that my trainer (Tony Sims) is keeping me busy."
His last fight, on the undercard of the televised Prize Fighter, didn't last long.
In fact he was back in the gym the very next day after he knocked out opponent John Jones early in the second round at York Hall. His first professional opponent, Dmitrij Kalrnovskij, only lasted four rounds.
"That was a great experience for me in front of all the cameras and all that but this Saturday will be completely different," he said.
He's not wrong. He'll fight at the Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell against an opponent he can't name in front of a small crowd. But he realises this is crucial for his development. "I don't really know too much about him apart from that he's had four fights and won two of them," said Evans.
"I've heard he's a strong puncher. It's not really about him though, I'm just concentrating on myself. I'm confident in myself and it's all about me producing the goods on the night.
"When I was an amateur I had to fight in all sorts of places (including Nigeria) and in front of all sorts of crowds.
"It's good for me, it all adds to the experience but when you're in the ring and that bell goes it's just you against somebody else. This is a Christmas show that's been put on by my trainer and I'm really pleased to be a part of it."
Come Sunday night his opponent may feel differently.
