Who is Pete "Precious" Panigiris?

We’d like to introduce to you to our future boxing sensation (or so we hope). Pete Panigiris is our resident BDM who is looking to take on a new challenge that will benefit both his health and raise funds for a charity close to his heart – the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Pete Panigiris is particularly "precious" about the way he looks, and how his hair and beard sits on any given day. We are just as surprised as you are that he has chosen to be a part of this, but we are rallying behind him nonetheless to transform into a boxing beast for the upcoming fight night.

So, let’s get to know our future boxing champ:

Name: Pete Panigiris

Ring name: Precious

Age: A ripe 31 (32, in Mid-March) - but let’s be real, with my flawless, 8-step skin care routine, I understand if you think I’m 26.

Height: Towering at a majestic 186cm.

Weight: Currently tipping the scales at a whopping 101.4kg - but given my propensity to smash a burger, it could definitely be higher.

Reach: I'll let you know when I decide to actually measure it. But I’ve got embarrassingly lanky arms (considering bicep implants...) Remind me why I’m doing this again?

What’s your favourite superhero and why?

Batman, hands down. Couldn’t tell you why though. Maybe it's the allure of the cape, or perhaps the thrill of late-night vigilante escapades, or maybe it’s the wicked Bat cave or Lamborghini-like car. Also, he’s an absolute baller – so that’s pretty cool, right?

But seriously, Batfleck? Let's just say I prefer my bats without a side of Affleck.

Who’s your favourite boxer?

Can I say Rocky Balboa? Who doesn’t like Rocky? Even though he is fictitious, he’s the GOAT.

But in all seriousness, if I had to choose, I’ll probably have to side with Iron Mike Tyson, or big Lennox Lewis.

What’s your biggest fear?

Heights. You'd think a guy this tall would be all about soaring high, but nope, I'm firmly grounded. Blame it on my childhood as a gravity-challenged chunkster. The fear of falling, and falling hard, was real.

What’s your biggest accomplishment?

TBD. So far, my life's highlight reel is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But hey, maybe dodging a left hook or two in this fight will finally earn me some bragging rights. I mean, Idris Elba went on to have a kickboxing record – so maybe this is me going through my Idris years!

What are you most afraid of your opponent hurting during the fight?

My precious schnoz! Have you seen the size of it? No amount of headgear will protect this big nose – I blame my Greek heritage.

I can already envision leaving the ring with a nose that's taken a detour to the side.

Do you have any rituals?

Back in my football [soccer] days, I had this quirky habit of slathering Vicks on my shirt and blasting Angerfist to psych myself up. If you're not familiar with Angerfist, think hardcore beats and enough energy to power a small city. It's like Red Bull for your eardrums.

I also have this tendency to warm up with my shoes un-tied, which given my record, poses a massive tripping hazard!

Why are you doing this and what do you want to accomplish?

Fitness has always been a big part of my life. I played a lot of football [soccer] as a kid, and into my early 20’s, but when I tore my ACL and couldn’t play anymore, I was shattered.

To fill that hole in my life, I turned to burgers, fried chicken, pizza, and started stacking on the weight. So, then the opportunity arose to shed those extra pounds, and what better motivation than the prospect of dodging jabs and uppercuts? Plus, who doesn't love the idea of a face-saving fitness regimen?

I thought this would be a killer challenge to get back to my old fitness levels, and also go through the mental test of ten weeks of intense training.

Who knows, maybe I could become the next Heavy Weight Champion in Australia.

Stay tuned for weekly updates on Pete “Precious” Panigiris’ progress. And be sure to donate to the Starlight Children’s Foundation here.

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