Boxers fighting for Tauranga charities

Boxing Dave Letele will face off against James Levao. Photos/supplied

Local boxers will be putting their bodies on the line to raise much-needed funds for three Tauranga charities next month.

The fourth Mana Tangata Boxing Charity Boxing event is being held at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre tomorrow, with 16 bouts and corporate fights featuring men and women participants from Tauranga.

The main bout is between Dave Letele, aka Brown Butterbean, and James Levao.

Local charities Wish 4 Fish Foundation, Tauranga Women's Refuge and Tauranga charity Kids Love Kai will all benefit from event.

The donations will give us an opportunity to help even more families struggling to find the money to feed their kids

Kids Love Kai's Steve Pearson

The event is an officially accredited fight night being organised in consultation with Hamilton-based Mana Tangata Boxing Gym founder Dean Northover and Pro Box New Zealand head official Peter Flurety, with paramedics on site to ensure all the boxers are kept safe.

The judging panel are also members of Pro Box NZ Incorporated.

Wish 4 Fish founder Bryce Dinneen said: "To be chosen as the main recipient is really exciting, and gives us a great opportunity to lift the profile of our non-for-profit foundation.".

"It's amazing as working alone to raise this sort of funds is extremely difficult and means we can fund another two to three fishing trips, as well as put some money aside for other promotional activity," he said.

Kids Love Kai founder Steve Pearson said his charity being selected as one of the three receipents to receive funds from this charity event was a " blessing".

"This is fun and whacky way of raising funds for sure. I know these boxers have all put their bodies on the line for many weeks leading up to the bouts. The donations will give us an opportunity to help even more families struggling to find the money to feed their kids," he said.

To buy tickets visit www.dashtickets.co.nz/event/8hcfs5rv7