Laila Ali goes from the ring to the kitchen as the host of 'Chef Grudge Match'

Boxing legend Laila Ali is stepping into the kitchen, trading her gloves for an apron as the host of Food Network's upcoming series, "Chef Grudge Match".

The cooking competition will take viewers on a culinary battle where elite chefs come to settle long-standing disputes and bitter rivalries.

Set to premiere on Tuesday, August 19, sous chefs wronged by their mentors to restaurateurs defending their turf against copycat rivals, each episode will showcase chefs putting their prized knives and reputations on the line for a chance to win $10 000 (R178 000), their opponent's most cherished knife and ultimate bragging rights.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Food Network family. As someone who's always been passionate about both competition and delicious food, 'Chef Grudge Match' is the perfect fit. From the ring to the kitchen, I've never shied away from a challenge, and now I get to have fun while bringing that same intensity to a show where culinary rivalries are settled once and for all," shared Ali. 

The show's premiere episode will feature a fiery confrontation between Italian chef Gabe Bertaccini and his former protégé, Tyler Romine.

Betrayed by Romine’s sudden departure from his catering business, Bertaccini has harboured a 15-year grudge that is set to boil over in the kitchen.

The second match showcases chef Taylor Frankel from Vail, Colorado, who has a bone to pick with her former Sous chef, Maria Busato, after she opened a rival catering company in the same small town.

"Throughout the eight-episode season, viewers can expect heated battles over business disputes, recipe rivalries, student-teacher conflicts and even husband versus wife showdowns, all taking place in front of a live studio audience with the electric atmosphere of a boxing match," shared the channel. 

Aside from Ali, resident judge Jet Tila will be joined by an impressive roster of guest judges, including culinary heavyweights like Eric Adjepong, Maneet Chauhan and Tiffani Faison, among others, adding their expert insights to the fierce competition.

Betsy Ayala, head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery, said: "With reputations and livelihoods on the line, competition in the food world has heightened stakes, which have produced legendary grudges and rivalries.

"'Chef Grudge Match' brings these grievances to a head in front of a studio audience, with all the energy of a live boxing match, and Laila Ali is the perfect ringmaster to oversee these battles for ultimate bragging rights."

• 'Chef Grudge Match' premieres on Tuesday, August 19, at 5pm on Food Network Africa (DStv channel 175).