Want the latest Scottish sport news sent straight to your inbox? Join thousands of others who have signed up to our Record Sport newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Bare-knuckle boxing. To most of us, just saying it out loud makes you shudder.

But for Jamie Insall it is the only ‘sport’ in the UK that he’s legally allowed to participate in.

A two-year drug ban has made sure of that.

On Friday night in Gloucester, the former Hibs striker will step into a ring for the first time with only hand straps for protection.

Paramedics will be on hand just in case. His fiancee Aimee will watch through the cracks of her fingers.

And his mum might not be able to watch at all.

The former footballer knows how dangerous it is. He’s acutely aware that one punch could cause lasting damage.

After all, as a semi-pro in England, he was given a suspended jail term in 2012 for attacking another player who was left with metal plates in his jaw. But this is different.

He says: “It’s like street fighting – but with nowhere to run.”

That’s the brutal reality of what he’s getting into, thanks to a ban that coincided with the end of his stint at Easter Road.

Insall was signed by ex-gaffer Alan Stubbs from non-league football and hailed as a rough diamond.

He scored goals for two seasons on loan at New Bayview before a failed drugs test for cocaine last year.

(Image: George McLuskie)

The 25-year-old maintains his innocence.

A tiny trace was found in his system – but he says he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Now he’s, literally, fighting back. He won’t be able to kick another ball until March 2019.

Instead, he’ll take part in his first bare-knuckle fight against Brandon Bates on Friday night.

Insall told MailSport: “My background before football involved getting into a bit of trouble. I’ve always been able to look after myself.

“And with the ban, bare-knuckle boxing is literally the only sport I’m allowed to participate in. It gives me a competitive edge.

“It hasn’t been legal for too long so UKAD (UK Anti- Doping) hasn’t crossed paths with the sport yet. That’s why I can compete.

“I wouldn’t say I fancy myself as a brawler but I’ll be OK in there. Win or lose, I’ll hold my own. I’ve always wanted to step into a ring and get that buzz.

“Of course it’s dangerous. You’re fighting with just wraps over your knuckles.

“But like in other sports, there will be paramedics on standby.

“There’s potential to get hurt or to hurt someone else. But that’s part of the buzz, I suppose. I’ll be more nervous before the fight than before a big match.

“Football is second nature to me. I rely on my ability on a pitch as well as others around me, my team-mates. But I’ll be on my own in the ring.”

You can pay either £30 or £45 for VIP tickets to see Insall fight. He’s grafted in the gym with coaches Shaun Seery and Robbo Roberts.

And with his football career up in the air it has given him a different goal to aim for.

Even if his family will struggle to watch.

He said: “I’ve learnt certain techniques that I’ll need in the fight. And I’m excited to see where I am with that.

“The guy I’m fighting is a nice kid but he’s over six feet and I’m only 5ft 8in.

“He’s got a body on him and a bigger reach than me. He has a background in martial arts.

“Aimee was sceptical at first because she didn’t want me going in there unprepared.

“If I was going to do it she wanted me to do it properly. I had to put everything into it.

“She knows my trainers and now feels like I’m in safe hands.

(Image: Post and Mail)

“But whether she’ll say that on the night, I’m not sure.

“She will probably be shouting like a hooligan at the side trying to support me.

“My mum wasn’t a fan but can see how much effort I’ve put in. She took persuading to come along but she’ll be there. I’m not sure how much of it she’ll watch though.

“I’m not saying this will be something I’ll do long-term. I won’t know that until after the fight I suppose.

“But because of the two-year ban it was something to help me stay fit. I needed something to give me focus.”

Insall is full of regret about the incident that led to an initial four-year ban, which he got reduced to two years.

He admits he was hanging around with the wrong type of people but is adamant the cocaine was ‘ingested inadvertently in a social situation’.

(Image: Sunday Mail)

And he’ll never forget the support he got from Neil Lennon and his former club.

He said: “The judge at our appeal believed that I didn’t actually take the drug.

“But I basically got done for not being careful and for being with the wrong kind of people.

“It was my lack of awareness that cost me. I regret putting myself in that position.

“When it came out in December, I got pelters. But I’m past that now.

“Hibs were brilliant with me. They paid for my B-tests that cost £2300 and the manager was amazing.

“The test results showed I had 0.01 per cent in my system. That’s why we had a case to prove I didn’t inject the drug.

(Image: SNS Group)

“The judge had no qualms with that. But I know I could have avoided the situation.

“I was devastated after all the hard work I put in. I genuinely believe I could have played a big part at Hibs.

“I’m over that now. I need little milestones to hit until the ban is up – and this fight is one of them.

“I know it could be the worst mistake I’ve ever made. I could get knocked out in 10 seconds.”

If he does, he might need to find yet another career path before he kicks a ball again.

And Insall has not given up hope of fulfilling his potential on the pitch.

(Image: SNS Group)

He said: “I wasn’t released by Hibs because of the failed test. I had permission to train with Grimsby Town and get a move there.

“While that was going on we got the test results. So I wasn’t released by Hibs, it was by mutual agreement because I was going to sign for Grimsby.

“And I have football options even now. I’ve signed with a new agent who deals with clubs overseas in places like Iceland and Belgium.

“So I just have to stay fit and wait. It’ll be a year on March 31 and I’m sure I can get back playing.

“My family have been so supportive and the one positive has been spending more time with my son.

“I’ll keep my head down and wait for an opportunity to rise again.”