‘Head punched in’: Kane Cornes knows what AFL world wants to see

Former premiership star Kane Cornes knows what the majority of the AFL world is hoping to see when he makes his boxing debut.

Kane Cornes knows where he stands with the majority of the football community.

The former Port Adelaide premiership player turned media personality is known for rubbing people the wrong way with his footy takes.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Never afraid to speak his mind and call people out, Cornes knows his style doesn’t sit well with the majority.

And it’s because of this that he knows a lot of people won’t be in his corner when he steps into the boxing ring to take on Nathan Brown.

The fight will be held at Adelaide 36ers Arena on April 3 ahead of Gather Round and will also feature a fight between Brownlow medallist Dane Swan and Collingwood great Dale Thomas.

Cornes said he knows the outcome people are wanting to see.

“Am I ready? I’ve been training hard but I mean, it’s a bit like Bill (Brownless) trying to get a university degree in eight weeks,” Cornes said on Triple M’s Rush Hour with JB & Billy.

“That’s what it’s like. It’s a really difficult sport to master, so yeah, I feel a little bit overwhelmed by it and a little bit nervous because everyone wants me to get my head punched in.”

Kane Cornes is ready to throw hands. Photo: Instagram, @kanecornes.

Despite being mates, once the bell rings it will be an all out slugfest between Cornes and Brown.

“You’re both competitive, aren’t you? You can have a laugh now and take the mickey out of each other, but once it gets into there and once one of us cops one in the head, I think we’ll be pretty agitated by that,” Cornes said.

“I’ve got no idea how he’s going to react, how I’m going to react, how the crowd’s going to react. That’s why it’s interesting, the whole night.”

With Cornes feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming bout, Brown isn’t showing any signs of weakness and believes it will be his hand held high at the end of the bout.

“Funnily enough, he’s a good mate of mine. I’ve known Kane for a long time,” Brown said.

“He’s a physical specimen who is meant to be the elite of the elite, but he’ll soon slow down when he gets one to the solar plexus, won’t he? And then a follow-up on the chin.

“For three months I’ve been hitting the pads, feeling good, dropping weight, and then all of a sudden comes the sparring.

“Some fighters, they just love fighting and getting hit in the head. I’m not one of them. I like to get out of the way of it.

“I’m under no illusion that I’m not a boxer, I’m an ex-AFL player having a crack for a one-off.

“If Kane’s going to war with me, he’s going to have to last the distance because there’s no way I’m going down.

“This fight definitely finishes with me getting my hand raised. I just cannot, and I refuse to go down to Kane Cornes.”

Full fight card

Jackson England vs Jame Herring - WBO Global Super Featherweight title

Kane Cornes vs Nathan Brown - four two minute rounds

Dane Swan vs Dale Thomas

Mitch Robinson vs Kayne Pettifer

Anthony Rocca vs Corey McKernan