The 22 "Southern Showdown" contestants had a variety of aches and bruises yesterday, but all shared the same satisfied grin.
James Mitchell and Tom West had one of the most bruising encounters in the Lion Foundation Arena on Saturday night, but caught up for a chat and a laugh yesterday.
"I came second," Mr Mitchell, sporting a pair of black eyes, said.
"But, I loved every minute of it and couldn't have picked a nicer guy to beat me up."
"For six minutes you don't like each other and then you're mates again," Mr West added.
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies also enjoyed his bout with lawyer Warren Alcock.
"It was an incredibly rewarding journey, with a great bunch of people, and I'm really glad I did it," he said yesterday.
"I have to deal with having been beaten, but that's never a bad thing and I learned some positive lessons about myself. I lost to a good fighter and take my hat off to him. The nose was pretty rough before the fight and nothing's really changed."
More FM radio announcer Damian Newell was also upbeat after losing the Battle of the Media to Otago Daily Times circulation manager James Smith, but shedding 14kg during the three months of training.
Promoter Doug Kamo said everyone who took part in the charity fight was a winner.
"All the boxers are fine. Some people come along and want to see knock-outs, but we don't and we want every bout to go the full three rounds and everyone to come out of it OK, which they all did," he said.
"We are pleased to have been able to showcase a black tie event of that calibre in Dunedin and we want to bring more of these to Dunedin. We'll definitely be putting this on again at a similar time next year."
The event was a fundraiser for the Malcam Charitable Trust.
