Los Angeles, Sep 12 (IANS): Brazilian model Adriana Lima does boxing in order to lose weight and says that it has become her passion now.

She trains with Michael Olajide Jr and finds the sport challenging, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I've been doing boxing for many years - over 10 years!," she said.

"I came to New York and I met Michael, and we started working out, and it's become a passion of mine really. I found this workout because I'm really an energetic person.

"I love challenges, I love intensity and I also like to challenge my mind ... You use a lot of concentration," the 32-year-old added.

The model was inspired to take up boxing after she saw her mother's friend's red boxing gloves.

"The first time I heard of boxing, I was about nine years old. My mum had a girlfriend that boxed, and I remember she came in the house with her red gloves and I thought - 'Wow, those are really really cool!' And I was like - 'One day I'm going to try that'," Latina.com quoted Adriana as saying.