BOXING:Australia outhalf Quade Cooper was yesterday pitted against Muay Thai veteran Barry Dunnett for his professional boxing debut scheduled in Brisbane next month. The 24-year-old New Zealand-born back is currently honing his punching skills in Brisbane ahead of the charity bout which will keep him out of the Queensland Reds' second and final pre-season trial.

When he steps into the ring at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 8th on the undercard of close friend and former All Black Sonny Bill Williams’ bout with Francois Botha, Cooper will confront a 32-year-old rival with some credentials as a fighter.

Dunnett has fought 15 times under Muay Thai rules which allow the use of elbow and knee, and the pair will meet for the first time on Friday at a media session.