Friendships put aside for corporate charity bash

A charity fight night will see a police woman, a radio DJ, the owners of two rival supermarkets and other well-known business people go head to head in a boxing ring.

Rob McGregor of Pak'nSave Papamoa and Allan Rudkin of Mount New World will face each other in Tauranga's first ever black-tie corporate boxing evening, to be held at the TECT Arena in December.

Mr McGregor and Mr Rudkin will put their 25-year friendship aside when they face off in the Carrus Lord of the Ring Corporate Charity Boxing Challenge.

"My partner Sarah knows one of the organisers and she mentioned about me fighting Rob. I didn't really want to do it, but then we were all at dinner together and the conversation came up and he said 'yeah, let's go'. So here we are," Mr Rudkin said.

It will be the first time Mr Rudkin and his opponent have worn boxing gloves and stepped into a boxing ring.

"Of course it matters who wins. I'm in it to win," Mr McGregor said.

Meanwhile, Mr Rudkin said: "I'm going to do my best to win but if I have a good fight, I don't have a problem losing to Rob."

Asked whether their friendship will survive the bout, the response was "of course".

The adversaries-to-be are two of 20 novice competitors and well-known businessmen and women who will get into the ring to raise money for Waipuna Hospice.

The group gathered at Tga Box gym in Judea yesterday and met their opposition for the first time.

The boxers will go head to head in three two-minute rounds.

The MC for the December 8 event is television presenter Howard Dobson.

At the boxing gym yesterday, More FM breakfast host Kirt Richards said the event would see her tick off a boxing bout from her bucket list.

"My dad was a professional wrestler, internationally, and I've always been involved ringside but this will be the first time I've gotten in the ring myself.

"I wouldn't like to sit sideline at an event like this.

"Life's too short to sit sideline, that's my motto," she said.

Organisers Andy Martin and Chris Walker of Tga Box said they hoped to raise $60,000 for Waipuna Hospice through the event.

The winner of each fight will also be awarded $1000 to donate to their charity of choice.

The professional boxers set to take part in the event are yet to be announced.

Lord of the Ring, sponsored by Carrus, will take place on December 8 at TECT Arena at Baypark. Table of 10 bookings and more information are available at www.lordofthering.net.nz

Corporate Boxing Competitors:

Di Lewis, Detective NZ Police, versus Nicolette Aldridge, Bayleys real estate agent.

Jake Crockford, environmental manager Tauranga Eastern Link, versus Ian Manley, Peters and Cheung geotechnical engineer.

Rob McGregor, owner Pak'n Save Papamoa, versus Allan Rudkin, owner Mount New World.

Amy Porter, Cornerstone Pub general manager, versus Ira Argent, stay-at-home mum.

Blair Cashmore, Bayleys auctioneer sales, versus Anton Jones, principal First National Tauranga.

Kirt Richards, More FM breakfast host, versus Lisa Parker, Liquorland owner.

Tim Lockhart, Media Works general manager, versus Matt Paget, Higgins operations manager.

Jeff Garnett, Eves real estate agent, versus Josh Hoskin, Goldridge Wealth Management financial planner.

Jules Bourke, Heaven and Hume owner, versus Deb Batkins, Bay of Plenty Times media consultant.

Simon Anderson, Bayleys manager, versus Rob Moon, Moon Civil and Drainage owner.

Aaron Moores, Craigs Investment Partners investment adviser, versus John Mackay, Holland Beckett Lawyer partner.