Jaime Ridge to fight GC star in boxing match

Jaime Ridge hopes a boxing fight against The GC star Rosanna Arkle will help "inspire" other girls.

"Yeah, I have done a bit of modelling but I am a fulltime law and commerce student too," the 18-year-old said today.

"I want to do something outside of my comfort zone. And I want to inspire girls if I can. I want them to feel empowered too - to take an opportunity when it comes up rather than sit back and do nothing.

"This a great challenge. It's an amazing way to test myself. I am all about stretching my boundaries."

Ridge and Arkle, 23, star of TV3 show The GC, will go toe-to-toe during an undercard match at the KFC Godfather of Fight Nights in Auckland on July 5.

Arkle, who is understood to be fighting in just a bikini, flew into Auckland with reality TV housemate and boyfriend Zane yesterday.

"Life is about living right? It's about taking chances and that's why I agreed to this fight," the Whangarei-raised glamour model said.

"There's no hiding place on reality TV and there will be no hiding place in the ring. And that's OK. I had never heard of Jaime Ridge until this fight came up. I don't know anything about her. But I know I want to beat her... and that's what I am training for."

Neither fighter, both models, are concerned about being injured, but Arkle conceded she would need to keep her face well guarded.

"I never really thought about that until now.

"I guess I just have to keep my guard up. I don't like the thought of getting hurt." 

Ridge, the daughter of former Kiwis captain and All Black Matthew Ridge, said there would be no surprises for her when she steps inside the ring. She has been training with former Warrior and boxer Monty Betham.

"Boxing is not so foreign to me," she said.

"I know what Sonny (Bill Williams) went through to prepare for his fight in February and I have been to heaps of corporate events so I understand the concept of it all. There is an element of risk but I know the work Monty is doing with me will be a massive help in the ring. Although, yeah, I am slightly worried about getting punched in the face."

Ridge and Williams dated for more than a month earlier this year, parting ways shortly after Williams gained the New Zealand heavyweight title.

Ridge and Arkle will fight over three two-minute rounds under the Fight for Life rules where headgear and bigger gloves are used.

Promoter David Higgins expected the female fight to be a big drawcard.

"Love her or hate her, Jaime Ridge is one of the most talked about people in New Zealand at the moment," Higgins said. "And clearly The GC is one of the top rating shows on TV. Combine the two and you have the possibility of tremendous interest from fans who are not necessarily boxing purists."

The fight is no doubt more made-for-TV fodder for a reality TV pilot Ridge is filming with her mother Sally. The pair have been seen with a camera crew catching up with gal-pals at Ponsonby hotspot SPQR and were recently followed to Colin Mathura-Jeffree's 40th birthday party.

The main fight night bout, held at the SkyCity Convention Centre, is between heavyweights Shane Cameron and American Monte Barrett.

Also announced today is a match between former Manly and Canterbury Bankstown rugby league star Solomon Haumono and New Zealand's third ranked heavyweight Joey Wilson.

Haumono has an 18 win, one loss, one draw record and is regularly touted as one of the best ever league to boxing converts.

New Zealand boxing phenomenon Joseph Parker will make his professional debut at the event and American Colonel Bob Sheridan will be the commentator.

- © Fairfax NZ News