The Cherry Brook Zoo is hoping to cash in on a mixed martial arts fight next month but the bout needs approval from Saint John council before it can move forward.
The zoo is set to receive a portion of ticket sales from the amateur mixed martial arts event at the Lady Beaverbrook Rink in September.
Lynda Collrin, the zoo's director, said the facility's finances are tight and the money from the event will help keep it afloat.
"It's not in our budget yet. It would be nice to put some money there from this event," Collrin said.
Collrin said the zoo is trying to fundraise itself out of a deficit.
But before the zoo can start counting on the money, the fight still needs the city's approval before it can be held in Saint John.
Edward Hoyt, the president of Hoyco Productions, is trying to organize the amateur event, which is set tentatively for Sept. 22 and 23.
But Saint John councillors will have to give the event the green light after a review from the city's solicitor before any punches are thrown.
"If our city solicitor comes through and says, 'Yes you can have this event,' as of September, the Cherry Brook Zoo will receive a sizeable donation," he said.
Hoyt said about one-third of ticket sales from the two-day competition will go to the Cherry Brook Zoo.
Collrin said she thinks Hoyt's idea is a great fundraising concept.
"I think what it shows is that we have a lot of people in all different areas that want to support the zoo and this is just one of the others," she said.