Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi’s, Lou Tyson is no stranger to the limelight, however admits she may feel a bit like a 'fish out of water' when she enters the boxing ring for her very first time on November 29.
Tyson, the partner of Stan Walker is taking part in a celebrity boxing event organised by MJT Events to support the charity Breaking Bread. Other Māori names listed on the fight card are Māori weaponry exponent, Eds Eramiha and Ngāti Whātua actor, Jordan Vahaakolo-Cruickshank who featured in the Born to Dance film.
“Heaps of people are kind of laughing at me like, really Lou?" joked Tyson, yet she remains keen to prove a point all in the name of supporting the charitable event.
Currently juggling working commitments and studying Te Reo Māori at Auckland’s Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, Tyson says that her long-time partner, Stan Walker wasn’t too fond of her boxing exploits at first but has slowly warmed to the idea.
“I said I’m going to do a fight, and he reckons, well you better win then!" said Tyson.
In six weeks time Tyson will receive her qualification in te reo Māori, shes says, "I've grown from zero percent, I feel to like hundred, especially in understanding so, we graduate yeah I'm so excited."
Tyson's opponent for the November 29 encounter at Aucklands YMCA black tie event is yet to be confirmed, however is expected to be announced officially in the coming weeks.