BOXERS are fighting to save a tournament after a break-in at their club on Portland.

Burglars took a safe, money, tickets for an upcoming tournament and important record cards in the raid at Portland Boxing Club.

The cards are a record of the boxers’ information – they cannot normally compete without them.

On December 8 the club is hosting a tournament and they were hoping 10 Portland boxers would be fighting, but all their cards were in the safe.

Life vice president and treasurer of the club Fred Coates said: “They climbed through a small window, grabbed a small safe that was on the desk and ran out the fire door at the back.”

Mr Coates said that no money was normally kept in the safe but that a little cash had been in there for tickets for the upcoming tournament.

The break-in happened between midday on Sunday October 28 and 10.30am on Monday October 29 at the club in East Street in Fortuneswell.

With six weeks to go Mr Coates said their focus was firmly on the tournament.

He has been calling boxing authorities to see if temporary cards can be issued for the December contest.

Mr Coates said: “We’re angry but we have to push on.

“These idiots and low-lifes are there. We have to make sure it won’t happen in the future.

“We have got six weeks to the tournament and there’s a lot of work involved in a tournament.”

PC Jenny Bousfield, of Portland Police, said police were appealing for information.

Call Dorset Police on 101 to help.