Jesse Ryder: I'm fit to fight

Cricketer Jesse Ryder says there is no medical reason he should not step into the ring for a charity boxing match against Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater in Christchurch on March 28.

Ryder will be returning to the city where he was felled during a late night altercation for a fight that will take place exactly two years to the day after he sustained injuries that left him in a coma for three days.

Ryder says reports he suffered a fractured skull during the incident -- which still remain on his Wikipedia page -- were incorrect. He had instead suffered only a minor concussion. The severity of his medical situation was because he had suffered breathing difficulties during the attack, he said.

"Personally I think it might have been just a minor concussion. I think it was when I aspirated my lungs was the main reason, that was the main thing I struggled with after the incident happened. There are a lot of people saying I had a fractured skull and stuff like that but there was nothing like that.

"A lot of people have come out and said [I] shouldn't be doing it but I have passed all my medicals. I had a medical this morning and passed that. I passed all my concussions clinic neuro [psych] tests. I am happy with where I am at. If I had issues I wouldn't have taken the fight on."

The chances of Ryder receiving much damage in the ring appear slim. During a face off with Slater, Ryder was clearly taller, had superior reach, younger and in much better shape. Ryder's last boxing 'match' against a non-athlete, radio host Mark Watson, lasted just a matter of seconds.

Slater, who broke his vow not to speak to the Herald, was remarkably bullish about his chances.

"I always back myself," he said. "I am always a box of surprises."

As well as taking on Ryder, the central figure of the Dirty Politics scandal said he would be "knocking over some politicians this year". He also challenged a Herald reporter who covered the Dirty Politics affair to take him on in a boxing match.