An Anglican minister is about to set a record as Australia's oldest professional boxer.

Father David Smith – known as Fighting Father Dave – is 54 and last fought 20 years ago.

However, he's returning to the ring to raise money for boxing programmes aimed at helping young people in Australia and abroad.

Speaking to ABC News Australia, the priest said: "This is why I got into it in the first place. It's always just been a way of raising money. It hasn't resulted in huge numbers coming to church, but it certainly has resulted in a lot of guys getting off heroin and getting their lives together. Boxing seems to really work as a form of therapy."

The Sydney-based priest will fight Glen Aristides –10 years his junior – in the super middleweight bout later this month.

Smith keeps fit by running around 100 km a week and has shed 6 kg since Christmas. He has regularly fought in amateur bouts since his retirement at 34.

He said his adversary would not find it easy. "I get the feeling he's pretty nervous and he probably should be too," Smith said.

Smith works with at-risk young people, especially those engaging in substance abuse and with anger management issues. As well as being an experienced boxer he is a martial arts black belt. He has been twice nominated as Australian of the Year, in 2004 and 2009.

In 2012 he broke the world record for the most continuous rounds boxing, eventually boxing continuously for eight hours and seeing off 66 opponents over 120 three-minute rounds. He is also active in inter-faith relations and campaigns for peace in the Middle East.