Irish boxer faces opponent set to swap punch bag for handbag

WHEN Irish boxer Michael Gomez enters the ring later this month he will not be fighting for a belt – but his opponent is probably more interested in knockout hats and shoes anyway.

Robert Newbiggin now strips as 100% masculine, with bulging muscles and intimidating tattoos, but after a date with a sex change surgeon on August 14 he will be swapping the punch bag for a handbag.

The 44-year-old Manchester-born boxer, who will change his name to Mercedes after the operation, says he has known since he was as young as three years of age that he was supposed to be a woman.