Blake Ferguson has credited the rigours of boxing training for keeping him out of the trouble he believes cost him a place in Australia's Rugby League World Cup squad.
Without an NRL contract for 2014 after being sacked by Canberra, the classy back will make his heavyweight boxing debut on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight in Sydney on November 27.
Ferguson was dumped by the Raiders in September after failing to front the board following breaches of the club's code of conduct.
He has also had to deal with two court cases regarding charges of indecent assault and driving indiscretions.
Ferguson was thrown out of the NSW State of Origin squad following a drinking session with another former Raiders star, Josh Dugan.
His off-field indiscretions wrecked any chance he had of playing in the World Cup now being contested in Europe.
"If I wouldn't have played up, I reckon I would have been over there as an emu (a fringe squad member) ... supporting the boys," Ferguson said.
He would like to play in the NRL in 2014 but his league career is in limbo.
"I think it's all up to the (NRL) integrity unit, they are the guys that are running the show there," Ferguson said.
"I'm waiting to hear back from them and we'll go from there.
"The last time I spoke to (the integrity unit) was about a month ago. I think it's just up to the court case next month."
Ferguson said he had found boxing harder than rugby league because it was an individual calling rather than a team sport.
"Waking up early in the morning has been pretty tough," Ferguson said.
"It's been awesome, though. It got me out of trouble, so it's a good thing.
"It's been pretty good staying out of trouble, staying out of nightclubs and that, just chilling."
He expects to enter the ring about his NRL playing weight of just more than 100 kilograms.
Ferguson wasn't sure whether he would fight Luke Turner, the man he was meant to face before the Mundine-Mosley promotion scheduled for October 23 was cancelled.
He dismissed rumours he would have pulled out of the fight had it gone ahead on that date and confirmed his participation in next week's promotion.
"Whoever the matchmaker picks, I'll fight. I'll try and knock them out," Ferguson said.
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