Richie Morgan
Richie Morgan has a spark in his eye when he talks of his upcoming fight on the “Adrenaline Rush” card.
Morgan will be the main event on the card and is suitably animated yet nervous at the proposition.
“I’m very, very excited about the night,” he said.
“I just think that it is going to be great for Cowra - it’s a growing sport that is becoming massive and I’d encourage everyone to get out and support the 8-9 local boxers, kick boxers and MMA fighters.”
Training for the September 15 bout admittedly is “a little tricky” as he balances the challenges of running a successful business with a demanding fitness schedule that will see him battle for three, five minute rounds.
“I’m training after work at night,” Morgan said.
“We have a bit of a gym downstairs and a few of the boys, who I train with anyway and are also fighting on the card, get down there and try to help each other out. I try to get in at least five nights per week and a day session on the Sunday.
“We have all sorts of fighters down there - Muay Thai, boxers, grapplers - do a few circuits, core work and do 8 rounds each of 3 minutes at least once a week.”
Mixed Martial Arts requires proficiency in many disciplines and, while Morgan has been wrestling and grappling for years, he’s had to develop more weapons in his armoury to steel himself for MMA.
“I have heavy hands - a good left hook and a heavy right - but I’ve never really done a lot of boxing,” he said.
“I was on the undercard of Joe William’s night last year and I fought Wade Newham who had a few more fights than I had. I got stuck into the boxing for seven weeks and met a few guys in the process.
“My submissions are probably my weakness, but I have good take-down defence. I’m a good wrestler and I’ve got pretty good defence to submissions as well.”
As September 15 edges closer, Morgan’s commitment is cemented in these weeks preceding the contest as he looks to strip weight from his muscled frame, a task made more difficult as he is exposed to the lures of his own hand as a chef.
“I have five kilograms to lose and I am on the money for weight [85kg],” he said.
“This week is a tough week - I’m cutting weight and I have been on a strict diet - it’s hard working in the kitchen with the temptation when I’m eating nothing but vegetables.”
With fighting exposure limited around the area, the organisers of Adenaline Rush took it upon themselves to try their hand at promoting.
“We had to take the initiative - it was either that or nothing,” Morgan said.
“We were trying to get on cards around the area and for one reason or another they didn’t eventuate, so we thought let’s just do it ourselves. We knew enough fighters who were keen and it is all falling into place.
“The hardest thing has been to match fighters of similar weight and experience to get everyone on a level playing field - we’ve had a few guys pull out and others who have said they would like to fight. We don’t want anyone who hasn’t had at least six weeks of training under their belt.”
With 13 fights on the all-amatuer card, Morgan encourages those interested in attending “Adrenaline Rush” to secure their place without delay as tickets have begun to sell fast.
“Our major sponsor DJ Dukey will make sure the atmosphere is great and we’ll have 30 seconds of video footage of both fighters training that the crowd will be able to see to make it a little bit more professional and build the event up,” Morgan said.
“There’ll be plenty of action going on so you get your money’s worth.”
Tickets can be purchased from Hilltop Butchery or Lot 31 for $40.
