The former football stars will trade their boots for boxing gloves and take the plunge on Wednesday night in what promises to be an exciting ring showdown ahead of the AFL Gather Round in Adelaide.
Kane Cornes, Nathan Brown, Dale Thomas, Dane Swan, Anthony Rocca, Corey McKernan, Mitch Robinson and Kayne Pettifer have been training hard for weeks to put on a show for both football and boxing fans.
The event also features a host of professional boxers, including Australian Jackson England, who will face American Jamel Herring for the WBO super featherweight world title.
Former AFL players and professional boxers will launch into a blockbuster boxing fight night ahead of the AFL Reunion Round in Adelaide.
Former football stars turned commentators Kane Cornes (left) and Nathan Brown (right) will face off in one of the most anticipated fights of the night.
When does the action start?
The event will be televised from 6.30pm (AEDT) for the event on Wednesday 3 April.
How can you look?
The meeting is exclusive to Stan Sportso fans will need an active Stan subscription to watch the event.
Stan subscribers will need to request pay-per-view for an additional $50.
If you can’t buy the event, Daily Mail Australia will be live blogging with updates on all the action.
Where is The Gathering Fight Night taking place?
The event will take place at the Adelaide 36ers Arena in Adelaide. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.
Breaking up the big fights
All fights promise to be exciting, but the following fights have sparked additional interest.
Kayne Cornes vs. Nathan Brown
Cornes, who does not shy away from controversy, has admitted that many people want to see him get hit by Brown on Wednesday night.
However, boxing icon Danny Green believes Cornes is the “most motivated” athlete competing on the night and won’t be at all surprised if Cornes raises his hand after the final bell.
At Tuesday night’s weigh-in, the former Power star admitted a South Australian real estate company paid to have his name on the soles of their boxing boots because that’s where they will get the most exposure.
“My job is to make sure that doesn’t show tomorrow night,” he laughed.
When asked by boxing legend Danny Green what his plan will be for fight night, Brown said, “I think we both want to pay some respect to the sport of boxing.”
Cornes appeared to be in much better shape than Brown, who joked that he is the heavy favorite with “about $1.10” to win.
Mitch Robinson vs. Kayne Pettifer
Both men take their training very seriously and Green believes this fight will be the best in terms of skill of the football stars.
“Petts has been boxing for a long time,” Green said. “Mitch has been boxing for a while and loves it, and he will continue if he comes out victorious.”
Boxing icon Danny Green believes the fight between Mitch Robinson and Kayne Pettifer will be the best to watch in terms of boxing ability.
Dane Swan vs. Dale Thomas
Both men are ultra-competitive and good friends outside of the ring.
Swan says he is in the best shape he has been in some time and has been training boxing for many years.
“I’m not a full-time boxer, I’ve had to juggle my lifestyle and my three young children, but I’ve done the job,” Swan told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I can do four rounds comfortably, it’s just the amount of times I get hit. But I’m ready to go.
‘Boxing is a discipline that I have always enjoyed. I hate running, I haven’t lifted weights since I was forced to while playing AFL and swimming bores me.
“I was supposed to fight a couple of years ago, but it fell through. I was asked to do this, so it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.’
Dane Swan and Dale Thomas are friends outside the ring, but they will give everything to get their hands raised.
Jackson England vs. Jamel Herring
Professional fighters compete for the WBO super featherweight world title.
Herring is a former world champion and has been in the ring with some of the biggest names in the business.
England, the Australian, is an exciting fighter and has come to Adelaide to make a statement against the skilled American.
Jamel Herring and Jackson England will compete for the WBO super featherweight world title
Alex Leapai Jr vs Joe Ageli
Rugby league prodigy Alex Leapai Jr has abandoned his NRL contract with the Gold Coast Titans to follow in his legendary father’s footsteps and focus on boxing.
Alex Leapai Sr. fought former heavyweight titan Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 for the world title and many are leaning on his talented son to go all the way.
“I feel fit and ready to go,” Alex Jnr told Daily Mail Australia.
Alex Leapai Jnr (pictured left) will make his professional debut against Kiwi Joe Ageli
Complete card for Gathering Fight Night
Main Event: Jamal Herring (24-4-0) vs. Jackson England (15-3-0) (Super Featherweight) (WBO Overall Super Featherweight Title)
Mitch Robinson (debut) vs. Kayne Pettifer (debut) (cruiserweight)
Jack Brubaker (17-5-2) vs. In Duck Seo (15-3-2) (super welterweight)
Kane Cornes (debut) vs. Nathan Brown (debut) (cruiserweight)
Joel Camilleri (27-8-1) vs. Joel Pavlides (5-2-1) (middleweight)
Dane Swan (debut) vs. Dale Thomas (debut) (heavyweight)
Alex Leapal Jnr (debut) vs. Joe Ageli (2-1-0) (heavyweight)
Anthony Rocca (debut) vs. Corey McKernan (debut) (heavyweight)
Sergei Vorobev (20-2-0) vs. Wes Capper (22-5-1) (heavyweight)