It says plenty about Troy Waters, his warrior spirit and compassion that one week after being released from St Vincents hospital where he was treated for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia the former world title boxing contender wanted to play in a charity cricket match this Sunday to "help people who need it".
Waters, one of Australian boxing's pin-up boys in the late 1980s and 90s, was determined to take his place in the annual Battle of the Smashers match at Ashfield's Pratten Park alongside former Test cricketers Nathan Bracken, Jason Krejza, Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler; former NRL stars Hazem El Masri and Michael Crocker, former world champion boxer Daniel Geale and members of Jason Taylor's Wests Tigers.
However, his wife - and chief cornerman these days - Michelle, threw the towel in when she realised what the former Commonwealth champion was trying to do.
"I wanted to play, the match is something I've look forward to in the past because you mix with great people but I just feel rotten," said the 49-year-old who last September defied specialists who feared he wouldn't pull through the opening salvo of chemotherapy treatment used to combat the mass of immature white blood cells that clogged his bone marrow and compromised his immune system.
Waters, who fought the likes of 'Terrible' Terry Norris, Felix Trindad, Simon Brown and Gianfranco Rosi, was helping to feed the homeless in Gosford the night before he was diagnosed, admitted things have been tough.
"I thought I might've been a chance to bowl an over but I'm struggling to climb up the stairs," he said. "It's frustrating after living an active life to be going through this but I'll beat it ... it is just going to take time."
Guy Waters, who fought Dennis Andreas and Virgil Hill for the world light heavyweight crowns, will take his younger brother's place.
Waters said he'll miss not being out in the middle, saying was a thrill to play in 'Smashers' matches and witnessed such things as former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich's classic catch; Steve Waugh's 91 off 42 deliveries in the first match he'd played in seven years; a man-of-the-match performance by San Francisco 49er Jarryd Hayne and the sight of the then 85-year-old Australian cricket great Alan Davidson opening the bowling to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his Test debut.
"It's always a good day and I hope a big crowd turns out," said Waters of the match that'll help Wests Cares, the charitable arm of Wests Ashfield Leagues Club.
Former Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken will play his first game after a knee injury ended his career a few years ago but the left-armer regarded as one of one day cricket's greatest finishers admitted he is in no danger of breaking any speed records.
"I'll be bowling off one step," he said. "I have no idea of how I'll go but I thought it was important t offer my support."
*The Battle of the Smashes IV will be played at Pratten Park, Ashfield on Sunday. Play starts at noon and entry is by a gold coin donation.
