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Aberdeen has its own nationally ranked boxer, and this spring he will be representing the city in a tournament in England.
Corey “King Smilez” McIntosh, the owner of the Wolfpack Family Jiu-Jitsu gym in Aberdeen, will face the undefeated Brendan Needham in Chelsea, U.K. at the Stamford Stadium on April 4. McIntosh, who has been in the sport for 33 years, is ranked number 50 out of about 2,000 boxers in cruiserweight boxing in the United States.
With a knockout rate is 68%, he will represent Aberdeen in The Transatlantic Clash 2 tournament.
More: ‘South Dakota’s best bistro’: Krave Café serves up a variety of tasty crepes in Aberdeen
“I started out as an amateur; I hated it … it was just something my dad wanted me to do,” said McIntosh. “Living in the community that I lived in [north of Virginia], I was always getting picked on. I was pretty undersized.”
But, McIntosh said, his training in boxing led to his subsequent freedom from bullying.
“My dad was also a huge [Pernell] “Sweet Pea” Whitaker fan," he said. "He was so much of a fan he took me out of [McIntosh’s previous] gym and took me to Sweet Pea’s gym, he’s a Hall of Famer."
McIntosh was able to watch Sweet Pea train. He called it "amazing and inspiring.” Now, McIntosh gets to work with Roy Jones Jr., who is Team USA’s captain.
“He’s a boxing legend," McIntosh said. "He’s probably the most athletic boxer we’ve ever had… him being our team captain shows how big this fight really is.”
More: Gov. Larry Rhoden signs South Dakota property tax relief bill, 3% assessment cap
McIntosh said this boxing match offers the Aberdeen Community a great opportunity.
“It’s going to be a lot of eyes (on Aberdeen)," he said.
McIntosh isn’t headed to the overseas arena without a plan.
“I’m not going out there to lose. I put guys to sleep. I make exciting fights,” McIntosh said. “I’m fighting guys who are like six-foot-two or better. My strategy is to stay on the inside."
McIntosh said his task is hard because he’ll have to "chase guys down because they’re going to use their length to keep me on the outside of their punches."
"I’ll have to be clever in how I place my punches,” he said.
The boxer also intends to stay levelheaded during the match, keeping personal issues with the other fighter, a commonplace in boxing, out of his head.
McIntosh credits most of his training to Jason Parsons at 605 Boxing and MMA in Tea, South Dakota.
“He’s the guy responsible for getting me the strategy," he said. "He breaks the (opponent’s) fighter tape down and tells me exactly what I need to do. He’s a great, great coach.”
McIntosh said his fiancée, Samantha Jones, and others have been supportive. He hopes to do the same for other boxers.
“I can use (this opportunity) to push other fighters into the light," he said. "Unfortunately, all these great opportunities have come at the tail end of my career, but I can always lift the next man up. That’s what I’m looking to do.”
McIntosh said he is still in need of sponsors. The fight will be on FightZone and TalkSPORT and are free to watch.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Boxer Corey McIntosh to represent Aberdeen in Transatlantic Clash 2
Continue reading...
Corey “King Smilez” McIntosh, the owner of the Wolfpack Family Jiu-Jitsu gym in Aberdeen, will face the undefeated Brendan Needham in Chelsea, U.K. at the Stamford Stadium on April 4. McIntosh, who has been in the sport for 33 years, is ranked number 50 out of about 2,000 boxers in cruiserweight boxing in the United States.
With a knockout rate is 68%, he will represent Aberdeen in The Transatlantic Clash 2 tournament.
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More: ‘South Dakota’s best bistro’: Krave Café serves up a variety of tasty crepes in Aberdeen
What led Aberdeen professional boxer into the sport
“I started out as an amateur; I hated it … it was just something my dad wanted me to do,” said McIntosh. “Living in the community that I lived in [north of Virginia], I was always getting picked on. I was pretty undersized.”
But, McIntosh said, his training in boxing led to his subsequent freedom from bullying.
“My dad was also a huge [Pernell] “Sweet Pea” Whitaker fan," he said. "He was so much of a fan he took me out of [McIntosh’s previous] gym and took me to Sweet Pea’s gym, he’s a Hall of Famer."
McIntosh was able to watch Sweet Pea train. He called it "amazing and inspiring.” Now, McIntosh gets to work with Roy Jones Jr., who is Team USA’s captain.
“He’s a boxing legend," McIntosh said. "He’s probably the most athletic boxer we’ve ever had… him being our team captain shows how big this fight really is.”
You must be registered for see images attach
More: Gov. Larry Rhoden signs South Dakota property tax relief bill, 3% assessment cap
Boxing match brings Aberdeen into the spotlight
McIntosh said this boxing match offers the Aberdeen Community a great opportunity.
“It’s going to be a lot of eyes (on Aberdeen)," he said.
McIntosh isn’t headed to the overseas arena without a plan.
“I’m not going out there to lose. I put guys to sleep. I make exciting fights,” McIntosh said. “I’m fighting guys who are like six-foot-two or better. My strategy is to stay on the inside."
McIntosh said his task is hard because he’ll have to "chase guys down because they’re going to use their length to keep me on the outside of their punches."
"I’ll have to be clever in how I place my punches,” he said.
The boxer also intends to stay levelheaded during the match, keeping personal issues with the other fighter, a commonplace in boxing, out of his head.
McIntosh credits most of his training to Jason Parsons at 605 Boxing and MMA in Tea, South Dakota.
“He’s the guy responsible for getting me the strategy," he said. "He breaks the (opponent’s) fighter tape down and tells me exactly what I need to do. He’s a great, great coach.”
McIntosh said his fiancée, Samantha Jones, and others have been supportive. He hopes to do the same for other boxers.
“I can use (this opportunity) to push other fighters into the light," he said. "Unfortunately, all these great opportunities have come at the tail end of my career, but I can always lift the next man up. That’s what I’m looking to do.”
McIntosh said he is still in need of sponsors. The fight will be on FightZone and TalkSPORT and are free to watch.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Boxer Corey McIntosh to represent Aberdeen in Transatlantic Clash 2
Continue reading...
