IN the blue corner, weighing in at 18 stones with a reach of 85ins and towering height of 6ft 9ins, is British heavyweight professional boxer Tyson Fury.

And in the red corner, at nine years old, measuring just 3ft 9ins, is the primary school pocket rocket Saadia Shama.

The youngster, from Beaumont Primary School, went toe-to-toe with Tyson as she and fellow year four pupils learned the tricks of the trade at the boxer’s gym in Halliwell Road, Bolton.

Tyson, who is so far unbeaten in his 22-fight professional career, set up his own gym in Bolton in May.

The 25-year-old was born in Stockport and his dad named him Tyson after the then world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

Saadia said: “We learned that boxing involves lots of discipline. It was a fun day and I was excited to meet Tyson Fury — he was a lot taller than me and he was really nice to us.”

Deputy headteacher Gemma Partington said: “The children really enjoyed it, and even though Tyson has a big fight coming up against Dereck Chisora, he still took time out to speak to the children about non-contact boxing.

“The children all knew about him and they now want to set up a non-contact boxing club at school, which we will look at doing.”

The youngsters also met boxer Eddie Chambers. The session, at the Platinum Community Centre, was part of the school’s sports week which saw youngsters take part in sports including waterpolo, mountain biking, orienteering, and archery.

All the pupils were presented with certificates and medals for participating in the week.

When the children returned to school they incorporated boxercise into the dance classes. Year Four pupil Mia Gash said: “The boxing experience was brilliant. We learned discipline and how to think on your feet.

“We also imagined what it would be like to be a boxer and realised that it was not as easy as it looks.”