ENTREPRENEUR Luke Davis is swapping the bar for the ring and preparing to throw a few punches in a charity boxing match.

The boss of Rockwater on Hove seafront, 42, will face his friend and fellow businessman Richard Skerritt in a clash at the Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel in King’s Road on April 30.

Luke will don his gloves for three two-minute rounds to raise money for Martlets Hospice in Hove.

The Argus: Rockwater boss Luke Davis is preparing for a charity boxing match Rockwater boss Luke Davis is preparing for a charity boxing match

Luke said the idea was thought up by his personal trainer to improve his fitness, but  news of the fight soon started to draw interest.

He said: “The original plan wasn’t to do a big public thing. It was meant to be behind closed doors, but then it just escalated and escalated.

“Soon we heard that the Hilton Hotel was near to selling out so we thought with all the momentum, we should make it into a large charity event.

The Argus: The afterparty will be held at Rockwater in Hove The afterparty will be held at Rockwater in Hove

“Richard has chosen to raise money for Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and I have chosen Martlets. We just wanted to turn all the interest and energy into something great for charity.”

To prepare for the bout, Luke has been training for more than four months and has given up drinking, but he said he is looking forward to celebrating, regardless of the outcome.

He said: “Boxing is completely new for me. Richard has done a few fights, so he has a bit more experience than me.

“I’ve been training hard for at least four months. I just hope I don’t get beaten up in front of everyone.

“It will be weird fighting my friend, but for those few minutes you are in the ring you have to put that to the back of your mind.

“But it’s all friendly, and although it is competitive, it’s for charity at the end of the day.

“I’m sure we’ll have a beer together after the fight and I’m looking forward to that.”

An afterparty will be held at Rockwater and Luke said he has a “few surprises” planned for those attending.

To donate to Luke’s fundraiser for Martlets, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rockwater-vs-skerritts