The Sydney priest said the former PM\u2019s earlier refusal \u2014 citing concerns about \u201cbeating up an old priest\u201d \u2014 no longer stacked up after Abbott publicly applauded police who clashed with demonstrators at the Town Hall rally, which Smith attended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you said \u2018no\u2019 to my last challenge because you didn\u2019t want to look like a thug, beating up on an old priest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think that horse bolted when you applauded the police who attacked peaceful demonstrators. I was there. It wasn\u2019t pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n
NSW Greens representatives Sue Higginson, Jenny Leong and Abigail Boyd were also among the estimated 30,000 attendees at the rally outside Sydney<\/a> Town Hall on February 10 opposing Israel Prime Minister Isaac Herzog\u2019s tour of Australia.<\/p>\n Footage revealed police arresting dozens of people<\/a> in what Greens NSW MPs, rally organiser Joshua Lees, and NSW Council of Civil Liberties president Timothy Roberts have all claimed was an excessive use of force.<\/p>\n Smith, who has spent more than 30 years using boxing as a tool for youth outreach and community building, insisted the challenge to Abbott wasn\u2019t about hostility but accountability \u2014 and raising money for charity.<\/p>\n He also made it clear he wasn\u2019t worried about copping a hit from the former PM.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the current NSW professional light\u2011heavyweight champion for us over\u201160s,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much damage do you really think you can do to me?\u201d<\/p>\n The video ends with a fresh invitation \u2014 and a jab.<\/p>\n \u201cTony, I\u2019m ready to rumble. I know you can fight \u2014 so let\u2019s see if you can take my title,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll raise money, for Palestine if you\u2019re willing. It\u2019ll be a war where everyone wins \u2026 except that you\u2019re going to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shocking twist as kidnap victim arrested on gun charges<\/p>\n 1 min read<\/p>\n![\"Father](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d23c5b90ec05a90b3debdd393858df32de87b67f-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\")
Father Dave Smith has challenged former prime minister Tony Abbott to a boxing match for charity. Credit: AAP![\"Protestors](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/9c24d55fd22e36de592c44dde8a58ce56f18f8ae.png\")
Protestors and police at a pro-Palestine rally in February. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n