Footballing stars Peter Crouch, Joe Cole and Ray Parlour are among the big names throwing their weight behind a new charity boxing event that will see Premier League legends step into the ring for a good cause.
The black-tie gala, created by ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack, will take place on October 18 at the Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair, with organisers hoping to raise £500,000 for Playskill, Sport In Mind, the Willow Foundation and Helping Hands.
The high-profile fundraiser has drawn support from former world boxing champions Darren Barker, James DeGale and Enzo Maccarinelli, alongside current stars Nina Hughes and Chantelle Cameron, ensuring a star-packed crowd on the night.
The evening’s headline fight will see ex-Arsenal winger David Bentley face former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris in a grudge match reviving old Premier League rivalries.
Elsewhere, ex-Villa and Hull defender Curtis Davies will swap tackles for punches against cult goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, while striker Leroy Lita faces midfield playmaker David Noble.
Swansea showman Lee Trundle will be tested against towering centre-half Anthony Gardner, and versatile utility man Greg Halford will square off with Marvin Elliott in what organisers promise will be a ‘non-stop drama’ clash.
Peter Crouch , Joe Cole and Ray Parlour are among the big names throwing their weight behind a new charity boxing event that will see Premier League legends step into the ring
The fundraiser has drawn support from former world boxing champions Darren Barker, James DeGale and Enzo Maccarinelli, alongside current stars Nina Hughes and Chantelle Cameron
The footballers are not taking their new challenge lightly. The participants will have spent months in training camps, guided by some of boxing’s biggest names, ahead of their respective bouts.
Bentley has been working with Kevin Mitchell, while Morris is under the watchful eye of Barker. Davies has teamed up with Tony Birmingham, Kenny with Dave Coldwell, and Lita with former Norwich striker-turned-boxer Leon McKenzie. Even the undercard fighters are being prepped by champions, with Noble trained by Hughes and Elliott by DeGale.
Stack, who is spearheading the initiative through his company Pro Project Promotions, said: ‘This is where football’s fiercest rivalries meet boxing’s raw intensity.
‘These legends are stepping out of their comfort zones to throw punches for a purpose. With a star-studded crowd, world-class entertainment and a mission to change lives, this night will be etched in history.’
