Laura Grant, in red, throws a punch at her opponent. [Photo by Jiang Wanjuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

Compared with other sports, Garrett Brick, 26, from Canada, thinks the reason white collars prefer boxing is that it is much easier and quicker to pick up, although it can get tough.

"If you see people really good at tennis, it is amazing to watch. But if they are bad, you don’t care. But for boxing, it's fun to watch whether they are good or bad,” said Brick, as he prepared for his first bout. "We are not professional, but if someone sees us fighting and knows we learnt in three months, it makes people want to participate themselves".

Although winning a bout in front of an audience is the ultimate dream for every fighter, training also benefits participants in many ways.

Kash Shan, a 29-year-old director with Worldlink Education, lost nearly 17 kilos in three months' training. He is now more confident about his body and health, and prefers to go the gym instead of heading to the bar after work.

Shan believes that makes white collar boxing special is the discipline that comes with it.

"When you receive discipline, it gives you discipline. Once you start to train regularly, it becomes easy to participate," he said. "Some people are really good at their work, but do not invest much time in their bodies. Boxing gives them the opportunity to succeed in their life as well as their business".