Ever felt the urge to throw a punch? At the mirror, in the air, at a friend in jest, in your dreams? It's a visceral, primitive, human instinct that beckons a lot of us. The legendary gymnast Olga Korbut, all of 1.52m, bounded into the ring once for an exhibition fight as did the reed-thin basketball player Manute Bol, a mere 2.31m. No, they did not fight each other.

Even comedian Ricky Gervais has let go a few jabs in the ring and it's like everyone needs to access their inner Ali. The writer George Plimpton once went three rounds with light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore with trumpeter Miles Davis in attendance. A bloody music followed. Plimpton got a broken nose but a great story.