EXCLUSIVE: All Blacks hardman's plan to take down Curtis Scott and why it's still 'scary as hell'

Rugby World Cup winner Liam Messam has accepted a challenge to fight former NRL champion Curtis Scott as part of Stan Sport's Uncaged extravaganza in Penrith on Wednesday night.

Messam, 40, has a 7-0 professional boxing record while Scott, 27, is also unbeaten at 3-0.

Former All Blacks loose forward Messam spoke to Wide World of Sports about his latest sporting challenge.

Ex-UFC star Tyson Pedro will face Kris Terzievski on November 20 in his pro boxing debut. Watch live and exclusive on Stan Sport

WWOS: Tell us about the background to you accepting this fight?

Messam: My coach/trainer/manager hit me up a few weeks ago to see if I was interested in fighting Curtis. Obviously Curtis has done an amazing job and made a career for himself out of boxing.

And it's just a wonderful opportunity to get on a card with Tyson Pedro as well. I'm a big fan of Tyson and what he's done in the UFC. So really excited to see him go in boxing. Not many opportunities like this come about these days.

So it would have been silly of me to turn it down. It's short notice but I've accepted it and I know what I've got myself into. I've tried to put eight weeks of work into two weeks but it is what it is. I can't complain, can't moan. I'll go over there and see what happens.

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WWOS: You are 7-0 and just turned 40. Is boxing part of your regular fitness routine, even if you're not preparing for a fight?

Messam: Yeah, when I was playing rugby, I did a lot of boxing just to stay fit.

But as you get into professional boxing, it's quite hard to maintain camp fitness for it. So I do try to have a break in between fights. I am trying to compete in the Ironman next year here in New Zealand. So I should be alright.

But I jumped into that ring last week and got a hell of a shock and I knew it was going to be different. I had already said yes to the promoters so I was like 'oh, I think I made the wrong decision here!' But I'm putting in some hard work.

WWOS: You're a seasoned pro in the ring now though, seven fights and the bright lights aren't foreign to you?

Messam: They're not foreign to me but they're still as scary as hell. It doesn't matter how many times you walk out into that ring, like it's not my chosen sport.

Yeah, I've had seven fights but still very much of an amateur rookie at this level.

I enjoy boxing. I love boxing but you can't really explain the feeling that it gives you and those big, bright lights, especially when you start becoming on pay per view TV. It takes it up a whole another level and type of pressure.

But in a way there's no pressure. I'm the old man, 40-years-old, jumping in the ring and see how it goes.

WWOS: I imagine you're doing plenty of homework on Curtis. What are you seeing?

Messam: He's a very strong and aggressive young man, isn't he? He likes to fight, that's his style, he will come forward. He'll be aggressive and it looks like he has very heavy and powerful hands.

So I'll be trying to stay away from those as much as I can. I know he's a hungry, young athlete coming through the boxing ranks and he'll be keen to put on a show for all of his home fans over there.

WWOS: How is your physical shape compared to your rugby playing days - weighing more or less?

Messam: Some ex-rugby players actually get real super skinny. But I've got the DNA which goes the other way. So I sort of fluctuate around 110-112kg but with this Ironman and boxing training I'm around 105kg.

I've tried to put a little bit of weight back on because those skinny Ironman legs ain't going to help me in the ring! Curtis is a little bit lighter than me but he must have some serious power and some some heavy hands to be knocking out his last three opponents.

Hopefully it will be a good fight. I think the styles will sort of match each other quite well.

WWOS: Curtis has also been full of praise about your boxing ability and your fast hand speed. Are you viewing this as a big step up from your previous fights?

Messam: It is hard to know just because Curtis has got such a short boxing background. But that is dangerous because guys like that throw punches from places they are not expected to.

It's a bit like rugby, you don't really know what's going to happen. But I'm expecting Curtis to throw a lot of leather and be really dangerous.

He had that big fight against Barry Hall, a massive show in Australia and he handled that pressure unbelievably well and came out on top.

WWOS: What's been your most memorable fight?

Messam: My last fight against Nick Charalampous. I was shitting myself because there's no way that I should have been in that ring with him. But to share the ring with someone like that, with his experience and his skill was pretty awesome.

I didn't really expect to fight someone at that kind of level.

I have also got fond memories of the old Fight for Life fights against Wendell Sailor and Paul Gallen, which I absolutely loved. I lost to Gallen by split decision. We were both coming off end of year tours and we were both pretty gassed!

If you look back on it, you'll be like, 'yeah, that's not boxing boys!'

It was pretty much a wrestling match and a good old pub fight in the corner. We didn't move very much but it has been awesome to see guys like him, Barry Hall, Sonny Bill, Curtis Scott really pave the way for non-boxers that want to get into boxing.

WWOS: Sonny is an old teammate of yours. Do you give each other boxing tips?

Messam: We used to spar a little bit, helping each other out but it didn't go too well because he'd hurt me and then I'd hurt him!

You know what mates are like - you get pretty competitive. It was supposed to be sparring but we started trying to take each other's head off. All done with love and a big smile.