ROLL up, roll up - it's the fight of the century. Or of the year at least.

Former EastEnder Sid Owen and posh TV presenter Ben Fogle are squaring up in the boxing ring, live on TV - all in aid of charity Sport Relief.

The unlikely celebrity pair may seem to have nothing in common - stocky Sid `The Snake' Owen, alias hapless car mechanic Ricky Butcher, is a former amateur boxer, while ex-public schoolboy and Countryfile presenter Ben `The Bear' Fogle has never raised his fists in his life, confessing he's terrified of spoiling his boyish good looks by getting his nose broken.

But the duo have faced a gruelling six weeks training in preparation for their three-round Celebrity Fight Night at 10pm on Saturday, during which the public will vote for the first time to crown their People's Champion.

At their very first meeting - at the official Amateur Boxing Association pre-match weigh-in at London's Sports Cafe - 32-year-old Sid immediately sets out to intimidate his opponent, almost knocking Ben, 31, off his feet with a hefty shove in the chest.

Weighing in at 12 stone 11lbs, a visibly nervous Ben, coached by Jim McDonnell, who trained Les Dennis and Grant Bovey in a previous contest, admits his opponent's rigorous exercise regime is really starting to pay off.

"I have to say he's quite strong," he squeaks, as Sid makes alarming throat-slitting gestures in front of him, when they step on to the scales in their boxing gear.

"I've never so much as raised my hands in anger before and this is actually totally out of character for me," he adds, recalling his first training sessions with his coach. "I apologised every time I hit him.

"Sid has already had a broken nose, which is quite worrying. I'm still very apprehensive about going into the ring and still find it draining both mentally and physically."

But despite his initial jitters, the Castaway star has the much-loved former world heavyweight champion, Frank Bruno, at his side to mentor him throughout the tough training regime that lies ahead.

Wisdom

"Sleep, get some early nights and just have some fun," are big Frank's words of wisdom, as he encouragingly clamps a huge hand on Ben's shoulder, appearing to have every confidence in his anxious celebrity protege.

"Once he gets a punch on the face or the belly, you'll see his determination come shining through and his poshness will go out of the window," Bruno chortles.

And Ben reveals he has a few tricks up his sleeve, even if his physical strength isn't quite up to scratch on the big day of the fight. "I'm a very stubborn person and I love a challenge - I've already been training for a couple of marathons so I am in pretty good shape.

"Also, I was mugged in Equador a few years ago and had a rib broken - hopefully this time I'll know what to do and maybe I'll get all my aggression out by telling myself that Sid is that mugger."

On the other side of the ring and weighing in at 12 stone 13lbs, former soap star Sid is confident that the boxing bout will be a complete walkover. "He's not going to hurt me," he boasts loudly, eyeing up his well-spoken opponent and already trying to psych him out. "We both want to win, but I know I will - there's already talk of me turning pro because I'm such a big hitter."

Sid, who is semi-retired and now running his own restaurant in Aubeterre, south west France, is being coached by legendary promoter Frank Maloney, a UK Independence Party candidate in London's recent Mayoral elections.

"It's a pretty boys and street boys competition," the trainer announces. "And my last-minute advice is just to knock him out cold!"

Sport Relief starts at 7pm on BBC1 this Saturday.

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