EDDIE Howe admits he "certainly wouldn't like to get in a ring with Artur" after his goalkeepers tried their hands at boxing this week.

Aaron Ramsdale, Mark Travers, Artur Boruc, Asmir Begovic and Will Dennis all took time away from the football field for some sparring and pad work at Bendall's Gym in Parkstone.

The session was led by trainer Ross Alexander while Bournemouth boxers Chris Billam-Smith and Lee Cutler were also in attendance, with Ramsdale sparring with the latter.

Boruc stepped into the ring alongside friend and former IBO light heavyweight champion Andrzej Fonfara.

Asked if he would be following in the footsteps of Fonfara in the forseeable future to take on Boruc, Howe told the Daily Echo: "Not any time soon.

"I like to pick my opponents a little bit smaller than Art.

"I certainly wouldn't like to get in a ring with Artur, that is for sure.

"I've not actually seen him box, but I can imagine he's some prospect."

Discussing the goalkeeping quintet's trip to the Ashley Road gym, Howe added: "We've integrated that as part of their training, some boxing work.

"We think there are parallels between goalkeeping and different sports, so it's nice to see them go out there and it's a great way of keeping fit.

"It's such a hard sport. If you've ever tried it and done it, boxing is one of the toughest endurance sports there is.

"It's nice to just break up their training with something different."

Ramsdale got the nod to start the Premier League opener with Sheffield United last weekend, making his Cherries debut in the process.

And the 21-year-old is expected to keep his place for tomorrow afternoon's trip to Aston Villa.

Asked if the number one spot is still up for grabs, Howe said: "He (Ramsdale) will dictate what happens from this point onwards.

"We believe in Aaron. He's a very talented young goalkeeper.

"He's got good experiences out on loan and did very well in his last loan spell at Wimbledon. So on the back of the pre-season he delivered, where he was hugely impressive, I felt he deserved to start (against Sheffield United).

"He did well in the game, I was very pleased with him.

"But it's like any position that we've got at the football club. The future of those shirts and who wears them will be dictated by the players themselves."