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Eight University of New Brunswick law students will put up their dukes for a charity boxing match Wednesday in support of Lawyers Against Landmines.

The Daily Gleaner/James West Pho

FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE: Gavin Cosgrove, left, throws a left hook at sparing partner Josh Lowney recently at the Fredericton Boxing Club. A charity boxing event is planned for this week.

The nine-bout event, which has been dubbed Knocking Out Landmines, will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Organizer Gavin Cosgrove said he expects the evening to be a lot of fun, while raising money for a worthy cause.

He said seven of the eight law students are newcomers to the sport of boxing and have only been training for a few months.

Cosgrove said he was inspired by an event in Toronto.

"Some Bay Street lawyers and finance guys were getting involved with something they called white-collar boxing," he said.

"They held it at one of the big fancy hotels in downtown Toronto and I don't know what charity their event benefitted, but we heard it was a success.

"I was sitting around with a few buddies having a beer and I realized they both weighed the same. I asked them if they'd mind fighting each other and we sort of went from there."

Cosgrove said there are two levels of tickets available for Wednesday's event. People can purchase them from him or at downtown retailer Digital World.

One ticket package costs $40 and allows the buyer admission to the charity boxing match. Another package costs $125, and it also includes a three-course meal from the award-winning chefs at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A $50-tax receipt is included in the more expensive package.

The UNB law students set to strap on boxing gloves are: Erin Riley of Cole Harbour, N.S.; Justin DeMerchant of Rusagonis, N.B.; Josh Lowney of Rothesay, N.B.; Josh Cormier of Dorchester, N.B.; Tyler Botten of Edmonton, Alta.; John Whelan of St. Johns, N.L.; Chris Samuel of Edmonton, Alta.; and organizer Cosgrove, who hails originally from Kingston, Ont.

Cosgrove said there will be at least three student-on-student fights.

"For at least seven of the participants, this will be their first real fight," he said. "They've been sparring, but that's just in a gym. "There's a lot of nerves bouncing around right now."

The final three bouts will feature three-time New Brunswick champion and two-time national bronze medal-winner Tyler Donovan, 2008 Canadian champion Shane Garnier, and three-time British Columbia champ James Dowe.

All proceeds will go to the Lawyers Against Landmines initiative, which is supported by the Canadian Landmine Foundation. That foundation works to raise funds and awareness about the need to end suffering caused by landmines.

The reception starts at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and the boxing will get underway by 8 p.m.