Some of the UK's best-known chefs are officially stepping out of the kitchen and into the ring. Prept. Foundation has launched “Food Fight”, a high-profile charity boxing gala landing at Old Billingsgate in March 2026, and the first punches (the training kind) have already been thrown.
The project kicked off with a Boxing Preview Day in London, where chefs including Jason Atherton, Paul Foster, Niall Keating, Chloe McCoy and Woongchul Park met sponsors and supporters before starting professional training. Think less macho posturing, more sore arms and quiet focus, with a lot of competitive energy simmering under the surface.
Training is being led by former heavyweight champion Scott Welch, with WBC Cares overseeing welfare and safety, while DJ BBQ and chef DJ Chet Sharma are set to MC the main event. During a Q&A, chefs talked about how boxing mirrors kitchen life: discipline, repetition, mental resilience, and learning to perform under pressure when everyone's watching.
Food Fight raises money for Prept. Foundation, which runs hands-on food education programmes for young people across London and Sussex, with plans to expand further across the UK. Fighters can be sponsored in advance, with donations funding Prept's work and pushing chefs up the event leaderboard – bragging rights included.
On the night itself, 700 guests will gather at Old Billingsgate for professionally trained white-collar bouts, a three-course dinner, a champagne reception, and a charity auction packed with chef-led experiences.