Tyron Spong went 14-0 as knowledgeable boxer after a really profitable kickboxing profession, however walked away from the sport in 2019. Apart from a short return to MMA in 2022, the heavyweight knockout machine was just about gone from the highlight. That each one adjustments on Might 2, when Surinamese-Dutch striker enters the Karate Fight pit for his first match in over three years, difficult Sam Alvey for the heavyweight belt.
Talking with MMA Combating forward of Karate Fight 54 in Dubai, Spong defined what lit up the aggressive fireplace after so lengthy.
“I simply really feel I’m not carried out but, you realize? I’m bodily, mentally nonetheless in it,” Spong mentioned. “Clearly, I’ve been doing it for over 20 years and plenty of fights, plenty of fights, plenty of fights. I simply wanted a break. Life occurs, issues occur, you deal with different enterprise, attempt to get some stuff going as a result of as we all know you’ll be able to’t maintain combating perpetually. Irrespective of how blessed or gifted you’re, with a great athletic physique, bodily traits, there’s going to be a time the place you both simply don’t wish to do it no extra or can’t do it no extra. I took that point off to deal with different elements in life that wanted some consideration.”
On prime of that, watching his 16-year-old son fall in love with the artwork that has made his father so widespread world wide was decisive to “awaken the aggressive drive” in his coronary heart.
“I pray none of my children would ever wish to battle, however that’s all he needs to do,” Spong mentioned. “And I really feel as his father, it’s my job to point out him the way it’s carried out. My son, to have him at this age — I imply, I turned champion many instances, however I’m positive he skilled it in a different way at that younger age. He’s extra mature now. This has his curiosity, he needs to do it, and that’s one in all my largest motivations proper now.”
“I’m going to battle this battle and go from there,” he added. “I’m gonna be lively as a result of I discovered pleasure once more within the coaching, being in form, coaching with my son, with the blokes on the fitness center. My plan is to be lively and blast the scene once more like I did up to now. One factor is for positive, success from the previous is not any assure for the long run, however I really feel good.”
Spong gained’t have his son in Dubai due to the space to the US — and all of the logistics concerned in being the star of a battle week. On prime of that, he’s in a mission there, and having to fret about these round you possibly can be a distraction.
“I’m a bit of bit old skool,” Spong mentioned. “I would even be thought-about boring as a result of I don’t like none of this shit. I don’t like interviews. I prefer to have my work converse for myself. I’ve been like that my entire profession. And clearly, we stay in numerous instances now the place society as a complete has modified. A variety of stupidity will get rewarded and the onerous employees and the individuals that truly deserve it don’t. I don’t like taking individuals to my fights. If you wish to come, come, don’t inform me, I don’t actually give a shit as a result of it’s me stepping into there to deal with my enterprise and do what I ready myself for doing.”
Requested about right this moment’s “stupidity” in fight sports activities, the 39-year-old veteran sounded not a fan of the always-growing trash speaking pattern within the sport.
“It’s is entertaining. It’s simply not in my character,” Spong mentioned. “I do perceive that followers prefer it. Sure individuals prefer it. Me, myself, I couldn’t give a f*ck about it. If I’m being trustworthy, I don’t care in any respect. With regards to that, I believe I’m very old skool. I come from a time when there was no social media like that. It was very a lot alive even again then. So if individuals spoke about you, that meant that you just actually did one thing, not simply discuss on the web. You will have plenty of guys now that do each. They’re superb and so they additionally promote themselves very effectively. I believe the most effective promotion you are able to do and have. is f*cking battle good, you realize? If I prefer it? No, probably not.”
Spong stayed away for a few years, however has been approached by different firms since. Karate Fight introduced a singular fashion that bought him . He faces Sam Alvey, an skilled MMA fighter who left the UFC on a surprising nine-fight winless skid earlier than turning his profession round with a trio of wins at Karate Fight.
“Each match pursuits me,” Spong mentioned. “Each problem. So long as it’s a problem and the individuals prefer it and I receives a commission, I’m an murderer for rent, brother. … I did all of the disciplines. I had success in all of them. I simply suppose it’s it’s a recent breath of air now within the battle scene. The panorama of fight sports activities is ever altering each time and I believe that is one thing that I that I like. It’s it’s very fan-friendly. I believe it has an enormous future as a result of the one factor you see when individuals watch MMA and UFC or no matter it’s, when it goes to the bottom and it will get stalled there, individuals don’t actually like that. They wanna see violence. They wanna see action-packed fights. And I believe this format has that.”
For somebody as skilled as Spong, a person that has seen all of it in rings throughout the globe, what would the Karate Fight belt really feel like?
“First issues first, I gotta go on the market and win it first after which I believe I can greatest reply that query,” Spong mentioned. “However on the similar time a title don’t imply sh*t to me, to be trustworthy. I don’t know what number of belts I’ve at house. I’ve loads in boxing, in kickboxing, 10-time world champion, six completely different weight lessons. I’ve defeated plenty of massive legends and champions within the sport.
“And to be trustworthy, perhaps I’m too humble when it comes right down to it. Some individuals would possibly say I’m boastful for saying that I’m a 10-time world champion, that I beat all these massive names. I don’t suppose so. It’s info. That’s what I did. I like talking info. And it didn’t change something for me. I’m only a regular man. I like being on the farm, being busy with my animals. And this combating, I’m simply fortunate I discovered one thing that I excel in and that I’m first rate at. However successful a title doesn’t imply sh*t to me. You gotta be a champion in life. That’s extra essential. You gotta be a champion in life. I would like my kids to take a look at me and say, ‘he’s a champion as a result of he’s our dad’, you realize?”
With quite a few knockouts in kickboxing, and a 93 p.c ending price as a boxer, Spong says there’s no secret as to how he expects to get it carried out versus Alvey in Dubai. He needs a knockout, however gained’t name it.
“Folks know who I’m,” Spong mentioned. “My report speaks for itself. I’ve plenty of knockouts. They know I’m a robust fighter, however I’ve by no means predicted fights in my life as a result of I don’t have a glass bowl. I can’t predict the long run. If I might, I’d make the world a greater place. I do know one factor: Once I battle, I discover a means, and by any means essential. I am going for the win, like at all times.”
