It's a dark December afternoon in London's East End and the grey cloud cover seems to bleed into the urban skyline. Beneath the gloom in a basement down a Hackney side street, seven construction professionals are leaning against the ropes on the inside of a boxing ring, all doing their best not to appear intimidated by the task that awaits them. They're failing. Badly. As the paltry light begins to fade outside, amateur boxing champion and trainer Jermaine "Flash" Williams points to two figures in the assembled crowd of teenagers outside the ring, indicating that they should join him. Taking it in turns, the kids begin to throw punches at Flash's pads. A jab here, an upper cut there, the speed and agility is at once intimidating and magnetic. Flash bobs and weaves with athletic grace, barking staccato instructions at his young charges.
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