RUGBY league club chief Ralph Rimmer fought to the last in a crunching kick-boxing bout.
And the Huddersfield Giants chief executive hopes his battle with a reigning karate champion will net £1,000 to help paralysed Moldgreen player Danny Scott.
Mr Rimmer, 39, was on a bill at a black tie event in the Palace Hotel, Buxton, on Saturday night.
He narrowly lost out on a split decision to Mark Long, the middleweight British karate champion.
Danny was paralysed during a Pennine League match this year.
Mr Rimmer vowed to help him by turning the fight into a sponsored event.
Each fight lasts 360 seconds and is marked like boxing. Fighters can win by a knockout, stoppage or on points.
People paid £5 to guess a time the fight would end in.
Now nursing a split lip and bruised body, Mr Rimmer, who trains at the Colne Valley Black Belt Academy at Linthwaite, said: "It was an amazing experience. All martial artists have great respect for each other and appreciate how much it takes to get into the ring."
Mr Rimmer took up martial arts five years ago, but only recently switched to kick-boxing.
Mr Rimmer said of his fight: "It was an interesting contrast. I just go forward and he was very elusive and a counter- puncher."
Mr Rimmer has promised wife Deir- dre that the clash will be the first and only time he ever fights.
But sons Gilbert, four, and Freddie, just two, are proud of their dad for coming home with a trophy.
