It is fair to say Cherries have been on the ropes with regards to Premier League bouts across recent months.

In the past 10 contests, their record stands at eight defeats, one draw and just one win – a vast number of injury sucker punches coming along the way.

But with his side left beaten and bruised over the festive period – Cherries boss Eddie Howe has tapped into the sport of boxing in a bid to get his squad up for a relegation scrap.

Cherries this week visited Steve Bendall’s Gym in Parkstone for a team building session.

With gym owner Bendall in attendance, head trainer Kev Thorniley along with Lee Cutler and Ross Alexander put Howe’s men through their paces at the facility on Ashley Road.

And the boss insisted there were “comparisons” to draw between the psychological battles of getting in the ring and stepping onto the field at professional level.

“It’s something we have always done, taking the team away and doing something slightly different,” Howe told the Daily Echo. “We went to Steve’s and he was very good, the coaches were very good.

“It was a little bit of fun for an hour in a different way just to get the boys doing some physical activity in a controlled way – but with a thought and a meaning behind it.

“You can draw the comparisons to the sport and the fight, battle and mentality we are going to need to show in the coming weeks. It was a link to that as well.

“There was a lot of laughs and a lot of good feeling among the group.”

So, with key contests against Watford, Brighton and Aston Villa all to come over the coming weeks, how did the group respond to getting inside the ropes?

“The staff stayed well away, me included! Some of the lads looked very handy,” said Howe.

“It’s something Artur (Boruc) has introduced into his training regime to keep the heat off his legs at times. It keeps him very fit, while reducing his chance of injury.

“He has developed very good movements in the gym and there’s a lot of good footwork stuff for goalkeepers and boxers that are quite linked. He was very good.”

Bendall’s head trainer Thorniley said: “It was great to have the team over the gym, they were a genuinely great set of lads and all seemed to enjoy it.

“I think it’s safe to say they found a new respect for the difference in fitness that boxing can offer and hopefully they will be back again in future for another session. Eddie is always a real gentleman to talk to and Jason Tindall, big Steve Fletcher and the others on the coaching staff are great fun to have in the sessions, willing the boys on with some banter thrown in along the way.”

Alexander, who trains goalkeeper Boruc, added: “It’s great to have professionals of one sport work alongside professionals of another and hopefully we gave them something from that session mentally that they can take on and use when it comes to fighting to win.”

So back on the pitch, are Howe’s men up for a relegation scrap?

“I don’t think there is any doubt about that – that we are up for the scrap,” he replied. “We know we are in one, so in some senses that’s a real positive.

“People have been talking for weeks – ‘are we, aren’t we?’ – We absolutely are. We have to be.

“Any sense that we are not would go against everything we have achieved in our history. We have proved time and time again we are up for the scrap, we are up the battle.

“In the big games, we’ve always done well historically, so I’d back the players to show how much it means (against Watford) on Sunday.

“I expect a really intense game mentally and physically. Both teams will be absolutely motivated to win and do well for their respective clubs. We can only control what we do and we have to make sure that’s our absolute best.”