SAS veterans take on ex-US Seals in ‘Remembrance Rumble’ charity boxing match

A SQUAD of former SAS soldiers will fight US ex-Special Forces aces in a boxing match like no other.

The Sun backed boxing bout – dubbed the Remembrance Rumble – will be the first of its kind ever and hopes to raise vital charity cash for a host of noble military causes.

Two teams have been assembled from both sides of the pond for fight night during the Remembrance weekend at London’s hallowed York Hall boxing venue, which seats 1,200.

It is the brainchild of former D squadron fighter ‘Big’ Phil Campion, 47, who took part in Operation Barrass, the SAS raid in Sierra Leone in 2000 to liberate Brit soldiers held by brutal militia gang the West Side Boys.

He said: “The ethos behind this is we all fought for countries and now we are going to fight for our beliefs.

“And we are going to put in the same level of commitment as we did when we served into this project.

“We are going to give the public something they have never seen before.”

The American squad is being compiled by former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb, 39, who trained Chris Kyle – the most deadly sniper in US military history – immortalised in the movie American Sniper.

So far he has organised US Marine Corps snipers and US Navy SEALs, all from the US Special Ops fraternity.

Each will be matched by weight class to the UK team of former SAS fighters.

Brandon, said: “I thought it was a great idea, especially in the Special Ops community the guys have the same mind-set, we’re cut from the same cloth, we all come from these crazy backgrounds.

“And I just think it’s a good way to work together to raise awareness around the veterans issues which we are still having on both sides of the pond.

“We’re putting the team together and we hope to hold this event in New York next year.

“It is going to be a spectacle like no other.”

Tickets for the bout are on sale now, and The Sun will ensure those who miss out on seats don’t miss out on the action, by live streaming the event on our page.

Phil – who has been diligently planning the night for months, added: “I’ve always wanted to box and I didn’t want to turn into one of these blokes who said they always wanted to fight but never did.

“The problem was finding someone to fight me – as soon as you say you’re ex-SAS no one wants to box you.

“They think you are going to put them in some sort of death grip. So someone said why don’t you fight someone from the Regiment?

“After one charity bout we decided to try and top that so we came up with the idea of getting a team of ex-SAS and fighting some Special Forces from another country.

“Once we decided on that, there was only one other country we wanted to fight, and that was the US.”

Via a mutual friend in the Special Forces world he teamed up with Brandon – a 10 year veteran of the fabled Navy SEALs before becoming a Sniper trainer.

Phil admitted it was tough assembling his crack team.

He said: “It wasn’t easy because there’s an element where people have got to stick their faces in the paper.

“This is a community where not everyone wants to do that – the guys that want to do this want to do it because of the charities they can help.”

Big Phil’s vision has been backed by Rob Paxman, 48, another veteran of 22 SAS. The pair fought each other at a Fight For Lives in April, which triggered the concept of the Remembrance Rumble.

Rob, who served with the Royal Engineers before passing selection to the SAS, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic event.

“Get tickets or watch it online, I guarantee you will not have seen anything like it.

“Now it’s all about getting ready for fight night – we’re determined to put on a brilliant show.”

Former star of SAS Who Dares Wins, Colin Maclachlan, is also taking part.

He said: “When you become involved in a charity it can be very much about being an ambassador, or being a face to promote the charity.

“But sometimes you have to put yourself out there and put your body on the line, and put some sweat and blood in to the causes you are literally fighting for.

“I would do just about anything for charity.”

Former SAS Corporal Jim Walker, 40, said: “The Yanks don’t have that dirty side, so as long as we keep it scrappy we’ve got a chance.

“It’s going to be a great night – let’s hope they don’t bring any ninjas.”

Former US Marine Scout Swimmer, Jon Schneider, who served with a unit dubbed the Magnificent Bastards, said: “To me boxing is not a sport. You do not play boxing. It’s a way of life just like being a Marine is to me.

“To box to raise money for a military charity will be by far one of the greatest moments of my life.”

The Remembrance Rumble will take place on Saturday, November 12, at York Hall, Bethnal Green London.

Cash raised from the Remembrance Rumble will go to a series of charities nominated by each fighter.

Ahead of the Remembrance Rumble, Combat After Combat, a charity black tie boxing dinner event will take place on September 8, 2016 at The Grange Tower Bridge London.

Tickets for both events are on sale NOW. To buy yours visit:

 

MEET THE STARS OF THE UK SQUAD

Phil Campion

AGE: 47

DIVISION: Super heavy weight

UNIT: D Sqn, 22 SAS

OPERATIONAL THEATRES: 4

YEARS SERVICE: 15

CHARITY: Care after Combat

Rob Paxman

AGE: 48

DIVISION: Heavy weight

UNIT: B Sqn, 22 SAS

OPERATIONAL THEATRES: 2

YEARS SERVICE: 11

CHARITY: Talking to Minds

Matt Charles

AGE: 45

DIVISION: Light heavy weight

UNIT: A Sqn, 22 SAS

OPERATIONAL THEATRES: 5

YEARS SERVICE: 25

CHARITY: Next Step Foundation