Gloves are off between BNP and UKIP in Barking general election race

An outspoken boxing promoter from Chislehurst has challenged BNP leader Nick Griffin to a charity boxing match in the run-up to the general election.

Boxing manager Frank Maloney is standing for UKIP in Barking at the next election - the same east London constituency being contested by controversial British National Party boss Nick Griffin. Mr Maloney says the winner of the bout should step aside and let the other have a “clear race” with the Labour MP Margaret Hodge.

Both men have competed in the ring before with MEP Mr Griffin donning boxing gloves and earning a boxing blue at Cambridge University. The 50-year-old represented the university against Oxford three years running, losing the first year on points before winning the next two with first round stoppages.

Meanwhile, Mr Maloney has competed in 69 amateur fights and says the contest could raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The 55-year-old said: "This is a serious offer I am making to Griffin. BNP members have made it clear on internet forums that I shouldn't stand in Barking. If they don't want me, let Griffin beat me out of the general election in a charity boxing match to be staged in the constituency. We would both nominate a local charity and the money raised would go to the organisation nominated by the winner. The loser of our fight should suffer and be forced to step down from standing at the general election.”

He added: "That would leave the winner in a clear race with Margaret Hodge for the seat in the Houses of Parliament."

News Shopper has contacted Nick Griffin’s office for a response to the challenge and is awaiting a reply.

News Shopper

BNP leader tops poll - of university shame

His Porkiness Griffin at Cambridge University (middle row, left)

BNP leader Nick Griffin has won a landslide victory - in the vote for the worst former Cambridge University student ever

The extreme right wing MEP won the dubious honour of being the Worst Cantabrigian with a massive 44 per cent share of the poll attracting 1,097 votes. He blamed his victory in the competition, run by Cambridge University student online newspaper The Tab, on "students swayed by the follies of the left-wing".

Mr Griffin said: "I am honoured to be in the same company as Cromwell and Enoch Powell. Alastair Campbell deserved to win. This poll does not even reflect the opinions of students at Cambridge. Let's have a debate at the Union and see what students really think."

Cambridge University Students' Union women's officer Natalie Szarek came second with 20 per cent of the vote. Broadcaster Vanessa Felz took third place with 13 per cent. Oliver Cromwell was fourth with 7 per cent just ahead of comic Jimmy Carr. Alastair Campbell got just 4 per cent.

Enoch Powell was eighth with 3 per cent, former Tory leader Michael Howard MP took just 2 per cent along with Aleistair Crowley, an occultist known as The Beast.

Editor Jack Rivlin said: "I'd like to say competition was fierce but when you have someone like Griffin included in the list, it's hard to see anyone else winning. We weren't surprised by the results, except for Natalie Szarek getting 20 per cent. Her inclusion was meant to be ironic. The idea wasn't too original - a couple of our writers proposed the idea after we saw Varsity's Greatest Cantabrigian poll."

Cambridge News