When fighters step into the ring with Father Dave Smith, they’re usually hesitant to throw the first punch – until he connects with one. Next month at least 30 boxers; from champion
Anthony Mundine to novice John Safran, will face that challenge when
the pugilist priest attempts to break the world record for the most continuous rounds of boxing by going the knuckle on Palm Sunday.
The Parish priest at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church aims to box 120 rounds of three min
utes over eight hours on Sunday, April 1.
Father Dave, 50, is aiming to raise $10, 000 for the church’s youth drop-in centre which he has been running since 1994.
“When I started fighting people would say ‘I can’t hit the father’ and stuff like that,” Father She centre brings together young people and rehabilitates those with drug and alcohol issues through boxing. Mundine and his father Tony and radio personality Safran are some of the names entering the ring. But Father Smith is still looking for more people to face a round against the ‘fighting priest’ on Palm Sunday.
“But I’d start hitting them and they’d quickly change their mind.”mith said.
Priest goes the Knuckle. Oliver Murray. Inner Western Courier – March 13, 2012. Page 7.
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