In this corner..a punching robot (video)

Mike Tyson, it's not. But if you're looking for a spur-of-the-moment sparring partner pulled from the closet, this just might be the ticket.

Kris Tressider, a Australian structural engineer, has invented what he describes as an "automated sparring apparatus" that he hopes to market as a robotic ring partner for someone looking for a pugilistic workout under controlled fighting conditions.

A user can adjust the machine to different repeating patterns or speeds.

"After boxing with the apparatus for a nominal time, a stop clock brings the arms to a rest signaling the end of a round. Different level settings can then be applied to the control panel before the start of the next round," according to Tressider.

And the target price? Somewhere just under $1,000.