LONDON: The Dalai Lama is considered a messenger of peace worldwide but the Tibetan spiritual leader is apparently passionate about a sport that is least likely to be associated with non-violence - boxing.A British actor Brian Blessed, who is a friend of the exiled Tibetan leader, reveals that he sparred with the Lama after becoming good friends with him during an expedition."We both share a passion for boxing," Blessed, who also attempted to climb the Everest once, was quoted as saying in 'The Harrow Leader', a suburban newspaper."It surprises people, given that he's a Buddhist. Nobody believes me when I tell them that we used to do a little bit of light sparring. We met years ago during one of my expeditions and spent a few days together and became great friends," Blessed revealed."He's my age, and when he was declared a God King as a boy, I was swimming in the canal in South Yorkshire."Blessed said he hit it off well with the Lama on their first meeting itself. "It's lovely to get a call from a man like that," Blessed said.