Shorty Street vs Bachelor in the ring

Winston Peters is a keen student of boxing, but even the NZ First leader didn’t know his daughter, Shortland Street actress Bree Peters, would be stepping into the ring.

Peters Jr told almost nobody – not even her dad – before it was revealed on Thursday she would square up against former Bachelor contestant Lisa O’Loughlin in a charity fight on the Super Eight boxing card at Auckland’s Sky City on November 3.

Peters, who plays murderous doctor Pania Stevens in the TV2 soap opera, said: ‘‘Fighting scares me quite a lot, and because it is scary, that’s why I want to do it.

‘‘The fear is definitely in me, but so is the fight: that’s the annoying thing.

‘‘It is probably one of the most scary things I’ve ever done, and it’s [fear of] failure in a big way, in front of people.

‘‘I think it’s that thing I don’t like things that can get the better of me and scare me, so I’m just doing it.

‘‘It’s rare to get an opportunity like this, and this may also be my only chance to do something to help someone else [by raising money for children’s charity Kidscan].’’

Peters competed in basketball, volleyball, surf lifesaving and athletics growing up, but has never stepped into a ring before, and only started training at Auckland’s Boxing Alley in March.

She’s met O’Loughlin, who has trained at the gym for the past two years, a couple of times and even done boxercise classes with her.

O’Loughlin, who stood out on The Bachelor for her forthright views, was encouraged to take the fight by pro boxer Monty Betham, who takes classes at Boxing Alley.

‘‘It’s a big challenge and I thrive on setting myself big challenges and goals and achieving them,’’ she said.

‘‘I’ve got the basics, but sparring and getting into the ring is definitely a new thing for me.

‘‘It will be a completely different crowd to The Bachelor, I would assume.

‘‘It was eye-opening doing the show, having people come up to you like they knew me, then realising it was because they knew me from the show: a little bit more of that is all good.’’

O’Loughlin says she doesn’t regret going on the show, nor her approach of ‘‘not sugar-coating’’ things.

‘‘I would definitely recommend [the experience] to the next round of people.’’

Peters vs O’Loughlin will be one of two celebrity bouts on a pro card headlined by Betham fighting for a New Zealand cruiserweight title.

The other non-professional stoush will involve New South Wales State of Origin captain Paul Gallen and an opponent to be named next week.

Visit vslive.co.nz to pledge support for Bree Peters (Kidscan) or Lisa O’Loughlin (The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation) with 100 per cent of money raised going direct to their chosen charities.