Double World Cup-winning All Black Keven Mealamu wants a crack at a title of another kind.
The All Blacks' hooker Keven Mealamu performs the Haka. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The second-most capped All Black of all-time, Mealamu confirmed his foray into boxing on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old would face former Warriors and Kiwis forward Wairangi Koopu in the headline bout when the Fight for Life charity event returned on Auckland's North Shore on 21 July.
It appeared the bout would just be the start for Mealamu in the ring.
The media release confirming the fight said the 132-test hooker had ambitions of winning the New Zealand professional heavyweight title.
A statement backed up by Mealamu's trainer for his boxing debut, successful boxing convert Monty Betham, who became the New Zealand professional cruiserweight champion in 2015.
"I feel privileged to be working with this top two per cent of athletes," said former Kiwis and Warriors skipper Betham.
"We have a journey in mind for Keven. His potential excites me."
While the fight would be Mealamu's first, Koopu had featured on Fight for Life previously, scoring a dominant win over Matua Parkinson in the 2011 edition of the event.
However, Mealamu had been using boxing in his everyday training for a long time, including during a decorated rugby career which also saw him notch more than 160 Super Rugby caps for the Blues.
"Keven Mealamu is the first All Black centurion to fight on Fight for Life and is keen on following Paul Gallen's footsteps in developing a successful and lucrative boxing career, and I can't see why not," said Fight for Life event promoter Dean Lonergan.
"By all accounts, Keven has been going well against pros in the gym and Monty rates him highly."
Lonergan said the final details of the undercard were still being finalised and would be announced soon.
A portion of ticket sales from the event would be donated to leading youth mental health and suicide prevention charity I Am Hope.