A charity boxing event featuring 10 retired professional footballers has raised £127,500 for four causes.
The funds were split between Helping Hands, in support of the Royal Free Charity (£25,500), Playskill (£25,500), The Willow Foundation (£51,000) and Sport in Mind (£25,500).
Pro Project Promotions, founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack, staged the inaugural event at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair on October 18, 2025. The show was streamed live on the Boxing News YouTube channel.
With their boots long since hung up, the former footballers who laced up the gloves were Curtis Davies, Paddy Kenny, Leroy Lita, David Noble, Anthony Gardner, Lee Trundle, Greg Halford, Marvin Elliott, Jody Morris and David Bentley.
Stack, CEO of Pro Project Promotions, paid tribute to the participants and thanked several former professional boxers who supported the event.
“Seeing former elite footballers step into the ring and out of their comfort zones for the cause was truly inspiring.
“We couldn’t have done this without the tremendous support from the wider boxing community, including former world champions Roy Jones Jr., Michael Watson, George Groves, Darren Barker, John Ryder and David Haye.
“I’m extremely grateful for the backing from across the sporting and media world that helped make this dream a reality.”
Former Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies defeated ex-Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in the opening heavyweight bout. Davies, 40, reflected on the experience and its impact.
“I’ve done many different things for charity, but did I ever think boxing would be one of them… absolutely not! The personal effect it had on myself and the group was massive.
“As retired former professional footballers, we all still yearn for that purpose. This event gave me that purpose.”
Two further events are confirmed for 2026, beginning on April 17 at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool before a return to the Grosvenor House in London on September 16. Stack now hopes to reach a target of £500,000 raised for charity.
