Twenty-two men will trade blows on Front Street this weekend as the ever-popular Fight Night once again throws boxing into the spotlight.

Despite Clarence Hill securing the Island's only ever Olympic medal, the noble art remains a largely forgotten sport in Bermuda ? apart from this annual amateur extravaganza.

But more than 1,000 blood-thirsty spectators are expected to descend on Number One Shed on Saturday night to watch the Island's best, and probably worst, pugilists battle it out over three, two-minute rounds.

The event's appeal remains in its mixture of top novices and genuine beginners, with 11 fights ranging from two inter-accountant bouts between Ernst & Young employees to appearances by six Olympic hopefuls at top billing.

What started as a low-key fund-raiser for Teachers Rugby Club at the BAA gym has ballooned into an annual spectacular that attracts one of the most diverse sporting crowds on the Island.

And promoter Nir Sadeh is hoping the attention the sport garners during Fight Night will give boxing a much-needed shot in the arm ? and lead to more regular ring excursions for the top fighters.

"Fight Night is always a big draw, but it is tough for the top guys when they are only really getting one outing in a year," said Sadeh, who has been promoting the event for seven years now.

"I am looking to take the interest we generate from this and push to have regular events monthly, or at least once every two months, probably at CedarBridge Academy.

"Of course Fight Night is the biggest fund-raiser for our rugby club, but it is much more than that, it is a chance for our fighters to progress and more regular bouts can only help serve that cause."

As well as promoting this event, Sadeh also sits on the Bermuda Amateur Boxing Association's executive and is keen to see the Island's fighters get on ? particularly in this, an Olympic year.

Qualifiers in Panama next month and Brazil the month after could give top boxers Bruno Parker, Jerome Caines (both junior welterweight), Andre Bean (light middleweight), Trace Easton (middleweight), Freeman Smith and Shareiff Wales (both super heavyweight) all a chance to punch their way to Athens.

But for this weekend just two of them will be getting international competition, with Canadians Theo Asante and Azian Howes flying in to take on Bean and Easton respectively.

Super heavyweight Wales, who like Easton picked up gold at the Caribbean Boxing Championships last year as part of the sport's mini-resurgence since the days of pros Hill and Troy Darrell, will take on Smith for a national belt ? flown in from the United States this week.

Other highlights will see Parker take on the unorthodox Caines while James Bergl, CARFITA athlete and the Bermuda discus record holder, takes on Mason West III.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and can be obtained at the Arcade Barber Shop, C-Mart, Docksiders, International Sports Shop, The Pro Shop, Sports 'R' Us, Take 5 Restaurant, Music World and Teachers RFC.