"You've called The Dock, it's Ben."

The voice on the other end was unmistakable.

"Ah Benny, it's Campo, how are you going mate?"

It was Terry Campese, the former Canberra Raiders skipper who scaled rugby league's heights with appearances for Australia and NSW.

Ex-ACT Brumby and Wallaby Alexander laughs he must have been caught in a weak moment, because he soon agreed to a charity boxing match to raise funds for Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy and the Terry Campese Foundation.

It paves the way for a clash of the codes at the Muscle Up charity fight night at the Hellenic Club of Canberra on August 29.

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Alexander will have a former Australian heavyweight champion in Ben Edwards in his corner, but to say he paints a picture of confidence would perhaps be a little off the mark.

"I know I'm going to lose. Campo, he's Queanbeyan rugby league tough, and I'm just a soft private school rugby union boy from the north shore of Sydney," Alexander joked.

"No pressure on Campo, the big tough rugby league player. I actually had one of my uni mates analysing all of Campo's fights on Youtube, there's that one against Dean Young. We've been looking for some weaknesses, I've got to analyse his technique.

"I've got no chance. I'm really excited, it'll be a lot of fun, it's still a long way away. It'll get the competitive juices flowing.

"Retirement is not as fun as playing footy every week, so I'm looking forward to it.

"It ties in with a lot of the work my dad does with genetic conditions similar to muscular dystrophy.

"People are born with conditions and it's not their fault. It's just bad luck. You always want to help out, and the fact it aligns with the work my dad does [on spinal muscular atrophy] which we're all super proud of, it's a chance to shine a light on some of what he does."

Campese has had a charity bout on the radar for close to six months after he was first approached by Capital Region MD's Rob Oakley.

Now the stars have aligned and it feels it was "meant to be". Two men who have the cause close to their hearts. Two of Canberra football's favourite sons.

The only problem for Campese is juggling boxing with work, crossfit training at SFS, and his Queanbeyan Blues commitments - because, of course, he can't resist the urge to pull on the boots again.

Then he has to settle on a nickname - the "Q-Town Brawler" comes to mind - and a walkout song.

His son chimes in with the theme music used by professional wrestling legend The Undertaker, while his daughter suggests 'Shape of You' by Ed Sheeran.

"Ed Sheeran, huh? That might not be my song, Benny might walk out to that with a glass of chardonnay," Campese laughed.

"I've had a lot of dealings with Rob over time now and we agreed just before Christmas. I needed someone who could help promote the fight, and Benny came to mind. Same age, same weight, battle of the codes, ex-Brumby, ex-Raider.

"This is the hard thing. I'm already getting up and going to the crossfit gym at 5am... Footy has started back. I might have to get up at 4am and spar before the gym."

The final ringside table will be auctioned off on Allbids as Canberra braces for a battle of the codes.