Fortunately for cancer it’s not, but former IBF Middleweight Champion Sam 'King' Soliman still had a bone to pick with the disease.

He was in Ballarat on Sunday to help raise money for the Support4Cancer Foundation, a local charity providing Ballarat people with cancer, and their families, support through their cancer journey.

More than 100 people packed into The Western Hotel, which had been stripped of its tables and chairs and replaced with a boxing ring for the event.

Amateur boxes and footballers from around the region had the chance to battle it out with the former world champion who took them on one after the other in the ring.

It was a close call for Soliman who coped a number of hard hits from all, including a number of teenage girls, who took to the ring.

But it was local Beaufort footballer Lee Marshall Soliman had his eyes on.

Marshall did not disappoint, putting up a good fight against the champion.

“The ironic thing is footballers are harder because you can’t predict what they will do,” he said.

With raising money for charities close to Soliman’s heart, he said he wouldn’t have missed an opportunity to come to Ballarat.

“Giving back is great, I love the fact it’s going to make a difference,” he said.

Event organiser Bianca Slater said the idea for the event was to bring something new to Ballarat while giving back to the local community.

Proceeds from the entry fee will be donated to charity.