Oz Labour candidate Tony Abbott challenged to boxing match

Sydney, Aug 7 (ANI): Aussie Labour candidate Tony Abbott has been challenged by opposition leader Hugh Zochling for a charity-boxing match.

The match will be staged in the electorate to raise awareness for Homeless Persons Week.

"Really action is needed fast ... we can't treat homelessness as someone's else's problem," the Sydney Morning Herald he said in a statement on Friday.

Zochling has pledged 1000 dollars of his campaign funds to a local charity fighting homelessness if Mr Abbott - a former Oxford Blue in boxing - agrees to the challenge and matches the pledge.

He is also calling on local businesses to support the proposed event.

"Tony Abbott needs to show leadership in this area," said the university lecturer and father of three.

But Zochling admitted the match - which would be three rounds at two minutes each - was a long shot.

"Tony has been doing a lot of blocking and weaving lately, and will probably block this challenge too ... Perhaps a few jabs will bring him to his senses," he said.

Zochling contested the seat of Warringah at the 2007 federal election but Abbott got more than 54 per cent of the primary vote and didn't require preferences to win the seat. (ANI)