Rugby News

Rugby star Quade Cooper will get his first taste of professional boxing next month and his opponent will be Muay Thai veteran Barry Dunnett.

By Declan Whooley

The Aussie playmaker will sit out Queensland Reds first two pre-season games as he concentrates on his bout on a night when he will be the undercard to another rugby star.

Sonny Bill Williams will be the main attraction at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 8th as takes on Francois Botha, but he will be happy to have his close friend competing on the same night.

Dunnett is a 32 year-old with just two boxing fights under his belt, a win and a loss in 2010. With more of a background in Muay Thai, it seems like Cooper's advisors have opted for a novice at this level.

Dunnett does pack quite a punch as this bout last year shows. He will just hope that he has had enough time to re‘coop’erate in time to face the New Zealand-born athlete.

Dunnett is in the white trunks.