Political heavyweight Tommy Sheridan is to square up to BBC Scotland football pundit Gordon Smith in a charity boxing match.

The Scottish Socialist Party leader will take on the former Rangers footballer in a bout in Glasgow next month.

All the proceeds from the fight will go to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow.

Several other big name fights are featured on the bill organised by ex-champion boxers Gary Jacobs and Paul Weir.

Hopefully Gordon will hold onto his good looks Tommy Sheridan

A fight between former Rangers player Ian Durrant and ex-Celtic star Peter Grant is also one of the bouts at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel on 23 February.

Mr Sheridan, a list MSP for Glasgow, said: "Obviously the reason we are doing it is to try to raise money for what is essentially a very good cause.

"It is a pity that we do have to do this kind of thing to raise the money, but we will do a bit of ducking and diving, and hopefully Gordon will hold onto his good looks.

The 38-year-old politician admitted that he was never as fit as the former footballer and that his reach was not as long.

Punishing training regime

"I just hope I will be able to survive," he said.

Mr Smith, 48, said he was persuaded to agree to the fight because it was "for a good cause".

"I thought I might as well get my face battered in for charity," he said.

The pundit said he did not have much time for a punishing training regime and would stick to his usual "couple of days a week".

The bout is the latest in a string of celebrity boxing matches.

It follows a fight between TV comedian Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey screened on BBC Two.

In July last year, TV host Les Dennis and comedian Bob Mortimer were involved in the BBC's first televised charity fight in aid of Sport Relief.