"I'm certainly way outside my comfort zone."
Cameron vs Betham looms as the main event on a Woodstock Reserve Fight for Life card that otherwise carries a distinct rugby vs league flavour. Among the other fighters confirmed for the December 3 spectacular are league's Wendell Sailor, Issac Luke, Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu and rugby names Liam Messam, Carlos Spencer and Christian Cullen.
For Cameron, the bout offers a chance to stretch his legs while he waits for a crack at the world cruiserweight champion, Australian Danny Green. Over a nine-year professional career, he has fashioned a 27-2 record in the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, most recently defeating Dominic Vea for the Commonwealth belt in July.
Green has so far proved an elusive match, so Betham will have to do in the meantime.
"It's a massive step up for Monty and a big risk for me," says Cameron. "I've got everything to lose here and if I don't beat him, the media will have a field day."
But Betham is in superb physical condition and certainly no patsy with gloves on. Boxing is in his blood - dad Monty snr fought professionally 53 times between 1973-82 and Monty jnr is unbeaten in five pro bouts since hanging up his footie boots five years ago.
He's also a former junior world karate champion. No wonder no one from union ranks wanted to take him on.
The pair are no strangers to each other - Cameron used to train at the Warriors facility and Betham was his No 1 fan.
"This time, I've got the best seat in the house - or possibly the worst - to see Shane fight," he says.
While they're obviously great mates outside the ropes, they've already engaged in the traditional pre-fight gamesmanship over its duration. Cameron wanted to drag it out over 10-12 rounds and take advantage of his experience, but Betham was determined to make it a sprinter's contest.
The compromise - six rounds.
"I've sparred with Monty before and I know he can handle himself," says Cameron. "He's got good hand speed and he's a courageous man, that's why he's taking this on. I'm certainly not taking him lightly."
Co-promoter David Higgins also put together the so-called Fight of the Century between local favourites Cameron and David Tua two years, and sees this as the biggest contest in New Zealand since.
"It has all the elements needed to produce a magical event," says Higgins. "All New Zealanders know and care about the combatants ... and just like Tua vs Cameron, no one can say definitely who will win."
Staged at Waitakere Trusts Stadium, the Fight for Life has been put together by Mammoth Events as a fundraiser for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.
