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Former Kiwis hard man Monty Betham is the latest rugby league player to swap football boots for boxing gloves - quiting the game to take up a professional boxing career.
Betham has retired early from his UK Super League contract with Wakefield and has already begun boxing training in Auckland.
Betham is the latest of a host of former NRL players to step into the boxing ring, who include Anthony Mundine, Solomon Haumono and John Hopoate.
Betham will attempt to emulate the exploits of his father, Monty, who had 53 professional fights as a middleweight or light heavyweight between 1973 and 1982.
The former Warriors captain will start out in the cruiserweight division and hopes to work his way down to light heavyweight.
Boxing expert Lance Revill says even as a late starter at the age of 28, Betham still has time on his side.
Revill fought his last fight when he was 36 and says he was better then than when he was 26.
He says it all depends how you look after yourself.
Details of Betham's first professional fight are expected early in the new year.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD
