He has been a rugby union and league representative player, who began dabbling in the fight game a year ago, and now Whanganui's Che Barlow has found himself on the biggest show in New Zealand boxing history.
The 40-year-old, at 105kg and 6.2ft, has been signed for his second professionalboxing bout for a rematch against Duco Event's colourful celebrity fighter David Letele, aka Brown Buttabean, on the undercard of the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz fight for the vacant WBO heavyweight title in Auckland on December 10.
After winning a Muay Thai bout at Whanganui's Rivercity Rumble in April, Barlow trained in boxing specifically for five weeks to meet Letele on October 29 at a card in Waitara.
He lost the four-round bout by unanimous decision to the more experienced Letele, but learned afterwards from the judges that the scorescards had been tied going into the final round, with the Aucklander being slightly more active after Barlow "gassed out" following going on the attack he in the second round.
"We found after the fight, it was pretty much my inexperience," Barlow said yesterday.
"It was a big ask of me to think I could beat him, that was his 22nd fight and my fourth fight.
"I had to learn as quick as I could. You never quite understand what your trainer's telling you until you're in a fight like that and the penny drops."
Barlow and his camp were able to get confirmation of the rematch this week, and are now out chasing local sponsors to help them get to Auckland, as Duco are known for asking certain fighters to support their own way to get bouts on their big cards with contracted talent.
"Buttabean didn't want the rematch, but Duco watched the video and they were the ones that wanted the fight," Barlow said.
"Joseph Parker's fight is going to be broadcast to 100 million people.
"I find it quite daunting - the TV coverage and fighting in front of 10,000 people.
"But I have to concentrate on the positive things, which is the way I fight.
"Look after myself and get through fight camp, I'm really confident."
Wanganui Toyota's Richard Nessling comes on board as Che Barlow seeks sponsorship to help him realise his dream.
Letele has become a fixture on Duco cards as a cult favourite through his personality - while using social media to build up his profile and find opponents in both corporate and professional bouts.
His underdog story of being very overweight and using boxing for a path back to health and success has served as inspiration for online weight-loss programmes and motivational speaking tours.
He was one of the key figures in the recent public campaign to have his sister Vicki Letele released from prison on compassionate grounds after being diagnosed with only five months to live due to cancer.
Letele had previously announced he would retire from boxing at the end of 2016, and Barlow is delighted to be his final opponent.
"This is his last fight, so a lot of the pressure will be on him to perform," Barlow said.
A Wanganui rugby representative back in the mid-2000's, Barlow left competitive sport around the age of 25, when he was "drinking and doing silly things".
When his young son took up rugby league, Barlow came back to playing at 35-years-old, and starred in the Manawatu competition for the Whanganui Boxon, including being selected for the Central Vipers representative team in the national premiership in 2013-14.
A knee injury saw him switch to Muay Thai and now boxing, with his son also getting into combat sports and continuing to inspire him.
"It's helped turn my life around. I've been sober for three years," Barlow said.
"Sport's been a real good avenue to keep me on track."
Training with the Hydra Boxing Academy in Eltham, Barlow has a boxing pedigree - he is the grandson of Sonny Pehi, a New Zealand heavyweight champion from 1959-62.
