Boxing: Former Chiefs star Liam Messam returns to headline Rumble on the River

Liam Messam. Photo / Malisha Kumar

Former Chiefs rugby players will come together in the boxing ring to highlight men’s health awareness during Movember.

Ruakura Rugby Football Club will host Rumble on the River, a professional corporate boxing event at Hamilton’s Globox Arena on November 28.

Liam Messam will headline the event, entering the professional boxing ring for the 11th time.

While it’s unclear who his opponent is, Messam’s trainer Cairo George is “actively” searching for one.

Messam holds a professional record of 11 wins, one loss and a draw.

He beat professional boxer Luke Siaki by knockout at the Duco Events David Nyika v Floyd Masson IBF World Eliminator Card last month.

Luke Siaki and Liam Messam during the official weigh-in at Aka Rooftop, Radisson RED ahead of the David Nyika v Floyd Masson World Title Eliminator boxing match. Photo / www.photosport.nz

Siaki was stopped in the third round, with Messam saying his six-week boxing camp for the fight was “tough”.

A potential opponent for Messam could be Northland rugby player Matt Matich, who fought Messam in his professional boxing debut.

Matich, now with a record of three wins and two losses, has just come from a win against rugby league legend Manu Vatuvei by unanimous decision.

Matich took to the mic after the fight, calling out Messam for another bout.

Meanwhile, three other former Chiefs players have been confirmed to fight at the event: James McGougan, Hika Elliot and Faifili Levave.

McGougan was a prop who made 16 appearances from 2009 to 2010, including the Super 14 finals against the Bulls in 2009.

Levave was a Chiefs flanker in 2008 and made 20 appearances for the Samoan national team.

Elliot, a former All Black and Māori All Black hooker, played 115 games for the Chiefs between 2010 and 2015. He also played in the 2012 and 2013 Super 15 winning finals.

The fight is November 28 at Globox Arena in Hamilton. Tickets are on sale in coming weeks.