A CHARITY champion who took part in a white-collar boxing tournament will pull on his gloves again - to fight former Premier League footballer Julio Arca.

Mark Solan: A man on a mission

The ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough player has agreed to step into the ring for three rounds against Mark Solan, from Spennymoor, County Durham.

When he signed up for last May’s Ultra White Collar Boxing event, Mr Solan imagined training for two months for the once in a lifetime challenge and hoped to raise about £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The Northern Echo:
Mark Solan agrees to fight his hero Julio Arca 

The Northern Echo:
Julio Arca agrees to box for charity, against Mark Solan 

He went on to raise £22,000 and was nominated for a Pride of Britain Award.

Inspired by the memory of his mother, Kay, and grandmother, Edith, who both died of cancer, he went on to launch The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Trust to support families affected by the disease.

Now his friend, promoter Darryl Hall, a teammate of Mr Arca’s at South Shields FC, is hosting an evening of boxing at Rainton Meadows Arena , near Houghton-le-Spring, on Saturday, May 7, and has put the Solan v Arca bout at the top of the bill.

Mr Solan, 42, said: “Darryl plays football with Julio at South Shields and I got to know him when he shopped at Van Mildert when I worked there, he said if he was going to try boxing it would be for charity and against me.

“I’m a Sunderland fan, he was a hero of mine so to box him is incredible.

“The white collar boxing was for Cancer Research, this time it is for my trust.

“We’ve had a bit of crack and though we’re not wanting to wreck each other we both want to win and put on a show.

“He’s a professional sportsman so will be fit as a lop.”

Mr Solan will train with ex-pro Nigel Wright at Spennymoor Boxing Academy and Mr Arca will train at Roker Rough House gym in Sunderland.

For every ticket Mr Solan sells The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust, which hopes to secure charitable status to expand its work, will get £10.

He also hopes to raise £1,000 in sponsorship via a charity webpage at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Team-Solan-1

Tickets, priced £30 for seats and £25 for standing, can be obtained via Mr Solan or the Trust’s Facebook page.