Boxing: Messam switch hitter for Wendell

Liam Messam. Photo / Getty Images

Wendell Sailor has played a Rugby World Cup final and scored a State of Origin-sealing virtuoso try. But the giant winger says lining up in the ring against former All Black Liam Messam will rank as one of the toughest assignments of his sporting career.

The blockbusting former dual international had been planning for a match-up at the Fight for Life against the much bigger Troy Flavell but a last-minute change, announced exclusively today to the Herald on Sunday, means he will face Messam.

Speaking from Queensland, the 37-year-old said: "There is nowhere to hide in the ring. It's very much out of your comfort zone. It's going to be the longest six minutes of my life."

Sailor has been waking up at 4.15am every day to train with mixed martial arts fighters, and says he was convinced to take part in the bout after chatting to past participants Mal Meninga and Kevin Campion, two other league greats.

Sailor is avoiding talking down about his opponent, saying he has a lot of respect for anyone who steps into the ring.

"This guy is an All Black, he's going to breeze through three rounds.

"I think if you are going to trash talk you have got to know what you are doing. I never sledged Manu [Vatuvei] - you never wake the beast.

"When you hop in the ring there is always a fear. When you are running at a frontrower in a State of Origin match, every time you run there is a chance you could end up in a wheelchair."

Sailor, at 191cm and 106kg, is still an impressive specimen.

And Messam's physical statistics measure up close to his opponent - he stands at 1.88m and weighs 109kg. But at 27 he is a decade younger.