Mike Heathfield is no stranger to the ring, so when the 52-year-old journeyman fighter was challenged to a boxing match by one of his former employees to settle a score on a reality television show, he jumped at the chance.
Called Gotta Grudge?, the show follows ordinary people who have had falling out with each other, and gets them to settle their differences in the ring.
“They’re everyday, run-of-the-mill stories,” says Heathfield. “Something goes wrong in the relationship, someone feels like they’ve been slighted, there’s a grudge, so they fight it out.”
Heathfield, who owns the Labour Unlimited labour temp agency, was asked to be on the show by a former employee, who wanted to get his licks in on the boss who fired him.
“He got caught stealing from one of the construction sites,” said Heathfield. “He denied it, but he was caught red-handed, so we removed him from the site.”
The employee felt wronged, and when he heard about the television show, he saw his opportunity to get back at his old boss, who happened to be twice his age.
However, he may have underestimated Heathfield, who has more than a hundred Muay Thai and Toughman fights under his belt.
When the employee came to Heathfield’s Maple Ridge home to sign the contracts to do the show, it was then that he saw the many belts and fight memorabilia adorning Heathfield’s walls.
“He’s a big old country boy, but I don’t think he realized I had all this fighting experience,” he said.
Although the fight took place nearly a year ago, Heathfield won’t say who won.
“You’ll have to watch to find out,” he said.
The episode airs tonight at 7:30 p.m. on The Score television network, and again on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.