Rugby Versus Rock: ‘Choose your corner, this global livestream is going to get rough’.

There is no doubt that BOXOP is live entertainment history in the making. The highly anticipated celebrity boxing match on Saturday, 29 May 2021 between rock royalty Francois Van Coke and rugby royalty Derick Hougaard has South Africa buzzing.

To be hosted at Time Square’s Sun Arena in Tshwane, the momentous dust-up is to be livestreamed into homes across South Africa – and across the globe. Moreover, it will be screened live in select Nu Metro cinemas nation-wide.

The two opponents are already flinging mud of an uncertain origin at one another. And supporters in both camps are biting their nails in anticipation of a knockout blow that could come from anywhere.

The simple fact is this: Nobody knows where the punches will land. No single person can tell how much destruction is in store. And no boxing afficionado can predict how many embarrassing pain points will raise their debilitating heads during the match. Uncertainty is already at a breaking point. Everybody is speculating and shouting and pointing fingers of suspicion in all directions. Groups of rugby and rock supporters are coming to blows during cheerful get-togethers. Old friends are quarrelling and ruining relationships that started in pre-school. And generally loving partnerships are teetering on a cliff edge of eyewatering nastiness brought on by the panicked anticipation of victory or the naked fear of defeat.

Someone will dance like a butterfly. Someone will crash and burn.

And three questions run like a red-and-blue boxing short through all the arguments: Number one: ‘Who will hit the mat first, flat on his back in the middle of a scattering of broken teeth?’ Number two: “Can rock triumph over rugby and change the tune once and for all?” Number three: “Will rugby stay on top and relegate rock to a lower rung on the live entertainment ladder?”

It is mind boggling. And it is billed as ‘the celebrity sporting event that might generate too much excitement to handle without supervision’. BOXOP, SA’s first ever series of celebrity boxing matches, is destined to add a new dimension to the way we appreciate and enjoy the showmanship, dash and big personalities of the household names who populate our live entertainment landscape.

Francois Van Coke rose to fame as the front man of South African rock bands Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel. He launched his solo career in April 2015.

Derick Hougaard played flyhalf for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and for the Bulls in the Super Rugby competitions. He also played for Leicester Tigers and Saracens in England and represented the Springboks with distinction.

In short, it is Francois in the red corner versus Derick in the blue corner. And in the roundabout way of things of this nature, there is no amount of knowing whether the outcome of the match will end up purple or puce or any other wild shade of uncertainty by the time the bell sounds at the end of the final round.

One thing remains certain: BOXOP is going to change live entertainment in South Africa and upend the lives of up-and-coming stars of all stripes with one nasty question: “I can sing and dance and act. Write poetry. Make people laugh. Play rugby, cricket, netball and soccer. But will I be able to BOXOP when my name is called?”

There is simply no better way to reconcile with family and friends – and to stop the arguments and the shouting and the speculation about the outcome of a celebrity boxing match – than to tune into BOXOP’s global livestream on Saturday, 29 May 2021 at 17:00 sharp.

The high-profile dust-up is brought to you by Blue Banana Events, one of South Africa’s foremost event management companies, and the same production team who presented the Afrikaans Goes Global and New Year’s Goes Global concerts in 2020 and the recent Valentyns Goes Global in February 2021.

BOXOP livestream tickets are R150. Get your access link with a single click at https://www.itickets.co.za to enjoy the match in the comfort of your own home.

Alternatively, spoil yourself and watch it on the big screen at select Nu Metro cinema nation-wide – get your tickets at https://numetro.co.za. All cinemas offer fully licensed bar and snack menus along with their standard popcorn and soda favourites.