Fight for Life: Messam gets ready to throw punches

All Blacks loose forward Liam Messam has taken many knocks in his rugby career. It's just part and parcel of being a professional rugby player.

But come December 3, the former Rotorua Boys' High School student will be taking some completely different types of knocks.

The 27-year-old is one of the rugby stars who signed up for this year's Woodstock Fight for Life - league versus rugby.

Messam, who has nine test caps for the All Blacks, says the transition to boxing has been an enjoyable one.

"It's a totally different fitness. After my first sparring session, I have a lot of respect for what boxers do and how they train. It's a totally different sport, different fitness. Once you get fit, it helps with the rugby fitness with the lungs and running and that," Messam said.

"It's been good, there's the whole other side that doesn't like to get hit but you've just got to get in there and get comfortable in the ring. Part of the sport is a contact sport, once you get comfortable hopefully it will go well."

Getting involved with the event seemed a natural choice for the 1.9m, 109kg Chiefs captain.

"I sort of boxed when I was little, when I was a kid. One of my mates from intermediate school got me into it and [I] just loved the sport from then. I still do quite a bit [of boxing training] for rugby, it's a good way to stay fit. I've always wanted to have a fight.

"This opportunity came and it's for a great cause - for prostate cancer. One of my mates fought through prostate cancer ... Everything just seemed to fall into place so I put my hand up and said yes to it."

The December 3 event will be at the Trusts Stadium Arena in Auckland. Six rugby stars will fight six league stars in an extreme battle of the codes. The fights will be three two-minute rounds and the money will go towards the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

Messam's team includes Christian Cullen, Troy Flavell, Slade McFarland and Carlos Spencer. Jonah Lomu was an original team member but because of his recent health scare he is unlikely to fight.

Although Messam hasn't been matched with his opponent yet, the league team consists of Monty Betham, Awen Guttenbeil, Issac Luke, Wendell Sailor, Jerry Seuseu and Joe Vagana.

Messam has a simple plan for the night.

"I'm just gonna hold myself out for two rounds. I don't want to blow out and get knocked out. We don't know who we're fighting yet so once we know who we're fighting we'll sort of have a gameplan from there but at the moment it's just trying to survive."

The former Rotorua local said he had a lot of respect for the league team.

"For me, I'm just blown away and honoured that former legends of rugby league ... you've got Monty Betham, Awen Guttenbeil and guys like that, all legends of that game. It's just awesome to be a part of it and mixing with those sort of guys."

The Daily Post will next week run a competition for readers to win double passes to the Fight for Life valued at $800.