It all struck Whanganui boxer Che Barlow as being real when he faced the flashing cameras at yesterday's media weigh-in for the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz bout for the vacant WBO heavyweight title in Auckland.
Barlow, 40, will be facing celebrity fighter David Letele, aka Brown Buttabean, on the opening match of the show at Vector Arena, in a rematch of their close four-round bout in Waitara on October 29.
Letele won a narrow points decision in an entertaining slugfest, prompting Duco Events to request Barlow for the rematch on the biggest card in New Zealand boxing history.
At yesterday's weigh-in's, Barlow tipped the scales at 105kg, while his opponent weighed in at 127kg.
"He looks like he lost a little bit of weight, but kind of the same," Barlow said.