Which is why the former Newcastle Knights fan favourite, affectionately known as 'Ross Dog', has no qualms about stepping into the ring for his pro-boxing debut later this month against heavyweight former rugby league international Justin Hodges.

Ross, who is now playing with the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, knows he will give away experience, height, reach and more than 10kgs in weight to the former Maroons and Kangaroos centre when they meet in the ring on the undercard to the Paul Gallen-Darcy Lussick fight at The Star Event Centre in Sydney on December 22.

"But what I'm lacking there, I'll more than make up for with my hunger," Ross told the Newcastle Herald.

"Yeah, he's a lot bigger boy but there is no weight division in rugby league. And while that doesn't directly translate to boxing and size and weight has it's advantages, I'm hoping that my sharpness and speed will keep me out of the way of his heavy hands.

"I know with the cardio base I've got that I'll finish the stronger and hopefully be able to take him out."

Ross, with just two amateur fights for two wins to his credit over the past eight years, was originally preparing himself to fight Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs in front of a home crowd at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

"That was the plan - to fight Kotoni," he said. "I initially got a phone call asking if I keen and I said yes.

"So I started training for that about six weeks ago and we'd agreed to both fight at around 90 kgs. Similar weight, similar size and probably similar boxing experience.

"That was all set to happen in Newcastle before it got changed but then Kotoni pulled out. So George and Matt Rose [No Limit Boxing] rang around and told me the only replacement they could get me was Justin Hodges.

"So, I thought why not, let's do it."

Hodges has fought on three occasions professionally for two knockout wins and a much-publicised first round KO loss to Lussick.

Since the Lussick first round stoppage, he has only fought once in an exhibition bout against another former league player Sandor Earl, with the fight going the distance.

Ross' only two amateur firsts, the first in 2013 on a Newcastle Rugby League boxing night against Dylan Vadjanal and again in 2019, resulted in knockout wins.

The last time he fought, he was 81.5kgs but he's been eating six meals a day in a bid to take on Hodges at around 93kgs. Hodges was 107kgs for the Lussick fight but is expected to be closer to 100kgs this time.

"I was anywhere between 83-87kgs when I was at the Knights and my ideal weight division is 80-83 kgs," he said. "But just to get on this fight card and put my name and the gym that I fight out of on people's radar, I'm going out of my comfort zone.

"We were due to fly to Queensland a couple of days before the fight to see my family for Christmas but we've moved it back to the day after - that's how keen I am to test myself again and get a foot in the door."

Ross believes there will be opportunities out there if he can put in a good showing against Hodges and win.

"I think what Paul Gallen has done is opened up a window of opportunity for a lot of footballers to chance their hand at boxing," he said.

"Obviously there was [Anthony] Mundine and to a degree Hoppa [John Hopoate] before that but Gallen's made it into a bit of a thing right now with there being some money around it.

"There is a lot of hype around boxing at the moment and Gal's shown what is possible. You don't know unless you give it a crack.

"Justin's obviously done and achieved it all in rugby league and was a more accomplished player than I was and done a little bit more in boxing than me as well. But I'm hoping the story might be a bit different after this fight."

One thing is certain, Ross will be a heavy crowd favourite in Sydney with former Queensland Origin star Hodges not the most liked sporting identity this side of border.

"The support already has been overwhelming to be honest with people on social media telling me what they'd like me to do to him," he said.

"But first and foremost, I want to go in there and box smart. I've got a real good trainer in Nathan Swadling out of Box Camp HQ at Gateshead looking after me.

"I've been sparring with some genuine animals - people that have had a couple of pro bouts at heavyweight and won them and some others who have had 40 to 50 amateur fights.

"So I don't think I am going to get pushed any harder than the people pushing me now. I'll be ready to go on the night."