Fight for Life boxers start trading punches at weigh-in

Rugby greats Wendell Sailor (left) and Liam Messam (right) face off during the official Fight for Life weigh-in at Sky City yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The cheap shots have started ahead of the Fight for Life charity event as the mostly amateur boxers compare biceps after 12 weeks of training.

The 12 boxers, made up of former and current rugby league and rugby union players, weighed in at SkyCity's Nations Clubrooms yesterday morning. They will compete in a battle of the codes tonight at Trusts Stadium in West Auckland.

While some boxers had sweated and dieted to lose weight - former New Zealand Warrior Jerry Seuseu shed 13kg - others were a little concerned about their lightness.

All Black Liam Messam weighed in 11.8kg lighter than his opponent Wendell Sailor, a weight gap which led him to suggest he might head to KFC to make up the difference.

The biggest cheer of the weigh-in was for ex-All Black Carlos Spencer, possibly because of his sculpted, Johannesburg-tanned torso.

His opponent, former Warrior Awen Guttenbeil was less impressed. He said Spencer looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but noted that "Schwarzenegger was never heavyweight champion of the world."

Guttenbeil said his priority was to last longer than fellow Sky Sports commentator Stephen McIvor, who was knocked out by broadcaster Clint Brown 37 seconds into his bout at the last event.

New Zealand rugby league representative Isaac Luke revealed that his boss Russell Crowe, who owns Luke's South Sydney Rabbitohs, was less than happy about his temporary change of sport.

"He blew up actually," he joked, when asked how Crowe responded. "He was filthy, but also gave me some pointers from his Gladiator role."

Luke will fight former All Black star Christian Cullen.

The charity event will have a female bout for the first time, with former Dancing with the Stars contestant Hayley Holt facing off with professional surfer Paige Hareb.

The diminutive Hareb, who weighed in 4kg lighter than Holt, mouthed to her opponent "I'm not sure I can punch you".

Others were more serious, with the showcase bout competitors Shane Cameron and ex-Warrior Monty Betham locking each other in a long, steely gaze. Cameron weighed in 300g heavier than Betham.

Tonight's event will raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.