Woodstock Honey Fight for Life
REDEMPTION is the over-riding
theme for tonight’s Woodstock Honey Fight for
Life.
An all-star cast of characters
comprised of A-list league and rugby talent will beat up on
each other in The Trusts Arena all in the cause for prostate
cancer awareness.
But for some of the combatants
– be it from the NRL or from those who have worn the black
jersey – it’s all about rebranding themselves.
Take
Willie Mason. The former Kangaroo and
current Newcastle Knights star is one of the most loathed by
Kiwi sports fans.
His time with the Bulldogs
coincided with some of that club’s darkest days, his stint
with the Roosters was referred to as a ‘money grab’ and
he even had the audacity to yawn during the Kiwis’
rendition of the haka before a test match.
“I
know blokes with a bit of black in their veins love to hate
me,” Mason said.
“I know that because every time I
have played against the Warriors at Mt Smart the crowd
target me.
“And when I have been out in
Auckland and Wellington the public like to give me a bit of
shit.
“Hopefully though, by taking
part in Woodstock Honey Fight for Life the average Kiwi
bloke will give me a little love.
“I’m
putting my body on the line for a good cause – I think
sports fans from both sides of the ditch will respect me a
bit more for that.”
Mason, along with NSW Origin stars
Paul Gallen and Greg Bird
as well as Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei and
former Kiwis’ strongman Jarrod McCracken
will represent league in the Clash of the Codes.
Former
All Blacks Carlos Spencer, Troy
Flavell and Rene Ranger, current
All Black Hika Elliott will represent on
Sky’s pay-per-view platform Arena for rugby along with
ring-in Eric Murray – the 2012 Olympic
rowing gold medallist.
Vatuvei is coming off his worst
year as a Warrior – a season which saw him lose his place
in the Kiwis.
“A few people have written off my
chances of playing at the Rugby League World Cup next
year,” he said.
“That’s fine, but for me
the Woodstock Honey Fight for Life has been the best
thing to happen. I am fitter than I have ever been and
pre-season for the Warriors is the best it’s been because
of that fitness.
“Boxing has allowed me to
approach next year with a fresh outlook. I’m hungry again.
I am in the best position possible to prove a few people
wrong.”
Ranger – who will take on Bird –
has redemption on his mind too.
He was in the
news for all the wrong reasons earlier this year when he was
in court facing a charge of assault with intent to injure
after an incident outside a Northland Tavern in 2009.
In August he was found not guilty and he now
sees the Woodstock Honey Fight for Life as something
of a rebranding exercise.
The other ‘Clash of
the Codes’ bouts tonight see Gallen take on Elliott and
McCracken go head-to-head with Spencer; Of those, the bout
between Gallen and Elliott is highly
anticipated.
Gallen – the Cronulla Sharks and
NSW skipper – had first choice of opponents and opted for
Elliott – clueless that the All Blacks’ reserve hooker
is a former New Zealand karate champion with more than 60
bouts under his belt.
“I chose Hika as my opponent for
two reasons,” Gallen said.
“First of all,
I’d never heard of him. But the main reason was because he
is a forward. If I am going to lose there was no way that I
wanted to lose to a winger!
“Now that
I know his background, well... it’s a little
daunting.”
Gallen won’t be the only Shark in
attendance in Auckland tonight. His teammate Todd
Carney will also be at the venue as he supports his
pro boxing partner - The Footy Show regular
Lauryn Eagle.
She’s up against NZ pro
Daniella Smith. In tonight’s other pro
bout New Zealand boxing phenom Joseph
Parker takes the ring for the third time in his
promising career when he fronts the controversial Richard
Tutaki.
Promoter David Higgins is
convinced the fight night will prove to be a hit with sports
fans.
“Clearly rugby league is popular and we all know
of the close ties between league and boxing,” he
said.
“There is a good cross-over between the
two sports and there has already been plenty of interest
generated by the announcement of, in particular, Paul
Gallen, Greg Bird, Willie Mason, Manu Vatuvei and Troy
Flavell.
“Boxing is such a tough
sport.
“Unlike league and rugby where a player
gets to rely on his teammates, inside those ropes there is
no hiding place.
“So it’s no surprise to me
that these guys – some of the toughest footballers going
around – want to jump in the ring and test themselves
against some pretty gritty guys from their rival
code.”
* The 2012 Woodstock Honey Fight for
Life will be broadcast live on Sky TV’s pay-per-view Sky
Arena platform from 8pm. To book phone
0800759758.
Who is behind Fight for
Life?
EVENT PROMOTER: DUCO
EVENTS
The “promoter” of Fight for
Life, is Duco Events which will financially underwrite
Fight for Life and will pay for the multi-million
dollar expense of staging the event. In consideration for
the risk, effort and expense, Duco Events will retain
commercial revenue, including ticket sales, sponsorships and
broadcast fees, and will retain any profits after all
expenses are paid, with the exception of net fundraising
proceeds which will accrue 100% to the charity
recipient.
CHARITY RECIPIENT: THE PROSTATE
CANCER FOUNDATION
As “charity recipient”
for Fight for Life, the Prostate Cancer
Foundation’s objective is to raise awareness of the need
for men to be tested for prostate cancer. In line with this
objective, Fight for Life is expected to generate
publicity for the Prostate Cancer Foundation valued at
several million dollars. Further, the Prostate Cancer
Foundation is expected to receive over $100,000 cash from
Fight for Life including 100% of net fundraising
proceeds derived from auctions, pledge draws, raffles and
donations.