FORMER Arsenal keeper Graham Stack is bringing London bragging rights to the boxing ring – in the name of charity.
Stack – Arsene Wenger’s back-up stopper in the 2003-04 Invincible season – has ten retired players signed up for the event next Saturday.
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The main attraction is former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris taking on ex-Tottenham man David Bentley at the Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair.
And despite the money raised going towards four different charities, there will be no love lost in the ring.
Stack, 44, told SunSport: “Of course not, that’s not what we do. We’re ex-footballers, ex-athletes, whatever it might be.
“I think if you ask them to have a game of chess or pool, they’re gonna do everything they can to possibly win and that’s gonna be no different.
“First things first, we don’t want anyone getting injured, which is why we’ve got head guards and gloves.
“But in saying that, people will be getting in the ring and they’ll be looking to knock their opponent out, which is exactly what I’m after.”
Morris, 46, spent seven seasons at Chelsea after coming through their academy, making his debut in 1996.
He later returned as Frank Lampard’s assistant manager in 2019 for nearly two years.
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Bentley meanwhile – who played with Stack at Arsenal – joined Spurs in 2008 and had five years with the North Londoners.
The ex-England international, 41, has been training with Kevin Mitchell while Morris is coached by former middleweight world champion Darren Barker.
And Stack reckons footballers stepping into the ring in retirement could become a trend.
He said: “Pretty much in any sport, whether that’s boxing or football, whatever that might be, there’s always that void, there’s always that gap.
“Over time you’re trying to replace it with stuff, so I think this is definitely given the boys back a little bit of a spark, give them an edge back, give them something to focus on, give them some drive and some stability and some structure.
“And ultimately fight night is gonna be like walking out in front of 40,000, the pressure, the nerves, the adulation if you win, the disappointment when you lose.
“I think it’s gonna be as close to what they would have had as a player since they’ve stopped playing.”
Elsewhere on the card is Curtis Davies vs Paddy Kenny, Leroy Lita vs David Noble, Lee Trundle vs Anthony Gardner and Greg Halford vs Marvin Elliott.
Stack was due to also fight and was in training – but had to focus all his efforts on organising.
People will be getting in the ring and they’ll be looking to knock their opponent out, which is exactly what I’m after
Graham Stack
He said: “It was quite a lot to do and I was finding it was probably too much.
“What I didn’t want to do is put myself down to fight on the night, win the fight, but the event not be a success and not raise the money, because I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night.
“The most important thing for me is to raise half a million pounds.
“It’s not about me, it’s not even about the boxers, it’s not about Peter Crouch doing the Q&A, it’s about what we raise ultimately.
“So we really do need everyone’s help to donate and hopefully as many people to come and be present on the night.”
Stack is raising money for four different charities.
‘Four wonderful charities’
Bob Wilson – who brought Stack to Arsenal – runs the Willow Foundation in honour of his daughter Anna who sadly died of cancer.
Stack is also working with Helping Hands – a children’s cancer charity in Barnet.
They are in need of a breakout room for children’s chemotherapy and need three more electric chairs – having only got one so far.
Playskill is also a children’s charity in Watford looking after patients from five-months-old to five-years-old.
They specialise in children with communication and physical difficulties.
Sport in Mind is a mental health charity – in partnership with NHS trusts – that Stack works with.
It gives those struggling mentally an outlet through sport – based in Reading where Stack spent the 2005-06 season on loan.
He added: “Four wonderful charities, we are trying to raise half a million, from October to October. So that is our goal.”
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