Arthur's Gym, based in Rhydyfelin, has been shortlisted in this year's prestigious National Lottery Awards which is broadcast on national television.

The National Lottery Awards reward and recognise the inspirational impact of National Lottery funded projects across all sections of society. National Lottery players raise more than £35 million for good causes throughout the UK every week.

Over 900 good causes from across the UK were nominated in this year's Awards.  Arthur's Gym has made it through to the final seven in the Best Sport Project category, with a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy and a £2,000 cash prize up for grabs if they get the highest number of public votes in their category.

Arthur's Gym is an amateur boxing club based in Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd in the south Wales valleys, inspiring local people, including some of the community's most disadvantaged, to make regular exercise part of their everyday lives.

Arthur's Gym is appealing for public support as it bids to make it all the way to the star-studded awards ceremony in September which will be shown on BBC One.

Jamie Arthur, 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Head Coach at Arthur's Gym, says: "We're delighted to have reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery money has really helped us by enabling us to open our facilities and give people from all walks of life the chance to experience sporting and exercise sessions.  We thrive on changing lives, from the friends and members that walk through the door.

"It's easy to vote, so we're hoping people support us, as it would be a fantastic reward for everyone involved in the project to receive national recognition for their hard work."

To vote for Arthur's Gym to win Best Sport Project call or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

TV star and actor John Barrowman, presenter of The National Lottery Awards, said: "National Lottery funding helps transform communities and changes lives for the better. National Lottery players should be proud that their contribution to good causes makes such a positive difference to arts, sport, heritage, community and voluntary groups across the UK.

"I would urge everyone to get behind Arthur's Gym and do their bit to ensure they get national recognition for their invaluable contribution to society."

Jackie O'Sullivan of National Lottery Good Causes added: "We have been overwhelmed by the number and standard of entries for the National Lottery Awards.  Each week National Lottery players raise over £35 million for good causes.  The impact of National Lottery funding at the heart of communities cannot be over-estimated."

"The 49 good causes competing for public votes are just a snapshot of the life-changing influence of National Lottery funding.  Now for the hard part, every one of the nominees is a winner in their own right but it is up to you, the public, to get behind your good cause and make sure they pick up the top prize."

There are seven nominees in seven categories in the Awards, reflecting the main areas of Lottery funding: arts, sport, heritage, health, environment, education and voluntary/charity.

Voting for The National Lottery Awards starts at 9am on Wednesday 19 June and ends at midnight on Wednesday 24 July.  You can vote at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards and follow voting on twitter: #NLAwards

DOVER, Del. — Friday Night Fights returns to the Rollins Center® on Aug. 23 with a headline title bout between two Top Ten U.S. heavyweights, unbeaten sensation Amir “Hardcore” Mansour, ranked No. 10, and Maurice “Mo Bettah” Harris, ranked No. 9.  Mansour, 18(14)-0 of Penns Grove, N.J., and Harris, 26(11)-17-2 of East Orange, N.J., will battle 12 rounds for the vacant U.S. Boxing Association heavyweight title.  A win for Mansour would propel him into the Top Ten heavyweights in the world.

The co-feature for the evening will be a ten-round match between New York’s Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana (27-4, 18 KOs) against an opponent to be named for the North American Boxing Association Junior Welterweight championship title.

Fighters on the undercard are unbeaten Washington, D.C., welterweight Dusty Hernandez Harrison (16-0, 9 KOs), and Delaware’s super featherweight Omar “Super O” Douglas (8-0, 6 KOs), lightweight “Jolt’n” Joey Tiberi (9-1, 5 KOs), super middleweight John “Church Boy” Bowman (6-0, 1 KO), and cruiserweight Lamont “Problem Solver” Singletary (5-0, 4 KOs).

Tickets go on sale today at noon for $40 - $200 and may be purchased by calling VIP Services at 800-711-5882 or visiting doverdowns.com.

The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.  Will call will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Visit doverdowns.com for updates.  Event, times and card are subject to change or cancellation without notice.  For media credentials and interview or photo requests, please contact Lisa Rollins at lrollins@doverdowns.com .

London, Ontario – Winston “The Show” Dann (1-1-0), the fighting pride of London, Ontario, returns to the ring on August 10 in Brampton, Ontario, after three years away from professional boxing. Dann’s opponent will be amateur standout and provincial rival Calato Boayke, who will be making his much anticipated pro debut against the smooth boxing London prospect.

Dann burst onto the Ontario pro scene in 2010, scoring a unanimous decision over always tough Horace Hunter (1-3-1) of Toronto. In his debut, Dann showed his boxing savvy, using a wide range of pugilistic weapons to outpoint Hunter, proving he can fight at range or in a phone booth. “The Show’s” career was temporarily sidetracked by a loss to Phil Rose (4-2-1, 3KO) of Whitby, Ontario, in September 2010, resulting in some time away from the ring to pursue his other passion – the restaurant business. With his London-based Jamaican cuisine eatery now fully operational, Dann is ready to continue his quest for the Canadian title, starting with Boayke in August.

The Dann-Boayke bout is scheduled for four rounds in the light heavyweight division and is part of a day long extravaganza at the Brampton Powerade Centre. At noon, boxing fans will be treated to a huge amateur card  featuring some of Ontario’s most exciting fighters, including a showdown between Steve Rainford of London and TJ Post of Oakville. A number of the Ontario Boxing Association’s other leading prospects will also be in action. A car show will also begin at noon at the Powerade Centre, running until 7:00PM. Don’t miss all the excitement! Tickets are now available via http://www.ticketmaster.ca . All of the events scheduled for August 10 at the Powerade Centre are present by promoter Dameon Okposio.

Fireworks can be expected this Friday night at Fairways Hotel in Dundalk, Ireland when rising Welterweight prospect "Irish" Paddy Murphy has his first professional bout in his native land.  Murphy 8-0-1 (4 KO) faces rugged veteran Peter McDonagh 19-28 (2 KO) over 8 rounds for the Celtic Warrior Welterweight title.  Born and raised in nearby Newry, Murphy has based himself in Australia since deciding to turn professional.  He raced to seven straight victories before being robbed in Hong Kong and earning a draw in December of last year.  Murphy is coming off a convincing win over Alex Ah Tong, where he obtained the WBF Asia Pacific title and impressed Ricky Hatton in the process. 

McDonagh, who is the former Irish Lightweight champion and has mixed it with some of the best in his region.  The "Connemara Kid" has victories over Curtis Woodhouse, Chris Sebire, Lee Purdy and Michael Gomez.  He is trained by former Commonwealth Light Welterweight champion and Hatton opponent, Eamonn Magee.  Magee has been critical of the standard of Australian boxing in the lead up to the fight, stating: "We all know what the standard of Australian boxing is like".  McDonagh quipped: "Believe me, there's only going to be one winner on Friday night.  It's all about timing and his (Murphy's) timing is wrong". 

Murphy countered: "I'm a proud Irishman, but I'm here to prove the level of Australian boxing is pretty good as well.  I've had a full 8 week training camp and I've never been hitting harder.  The referee will be raising my hand as the winner on the night". 

Murphy's trainer Gareth Williams confirmed that his preparation has been ideal.  "You can see just how much this fight means to Paddy.  Everywhere we go people are stopping him in the street and wishing him luck.  He'll lift another level on the night because of the support".  Matt Clark, Murphy's manager also believes Murphy is capable of winning the title.  "Paddy is one of the best kept secrets in Australian boxing.  He's fought just the once on TV, so not everyone has heard of him.  Believe me, they will shortly.  The kid is a pleasure to deal with and his professionalism is unquestionable.  I'm expecting a career best fight from him on Friday night and he'll need to deliver it because McDonagh is no slouch."

Also on the card is a barn-burning Irish Middleweight title fight featuring Eamon O'Kane 9-1 (3 KO) against Anthony Fitzgerald 14-4 (4 KO).  The ten round contest has been dubbed as "must win" for both men.  The winner will see his career flourish while the loser will need to rebuild.  Fitzgerald will be looking to turn the tables on O'Kane, who beat him by split decision over three rounds in the Prizefighter competition last year. 

Heavyweight prospect Hughie Fury will continue his quest to become the youngest ever Heavyweight champion when he tackles Croatian journeyman Ivica Perkovic.  The cousin of Heavyweight contender, Tyson Fury, faces a step up in opposition with Perkovic having lasted the distance with established fighters such as Alexander Ustinov, Alexander Dimitrenko and Andrzej Wawrzyk. 

The "son of a legend," Steve Collins Jnr will make his professional debut over 4 stanzas at Cruiserweight.  The former London Irish rugby hooker will be looking to impress when he faces Moses Matovu.  Also featuring on the bill is red hot Light Welterweight prospect Philip Sutcliffe Jnr who is scheduled to meet Radoslav Mitev over 8 rounds.