Local professional fighter pushes body to the max
By Kyle Schmidt
A local professional fighter is making a name for himself in his sport and preparing to defend his perfect record in a bout set for next weekend.
St. Joseph native Tyson Hicks, also known as “Battleship,” currently holds a 4-0 record in combat sports.
“When I step in there, I know it’s a battle, so regardless of what I’m doing, I think that’s something I develop,” Hicks said. “When you call in reinforcements, you need a battleship to go to work and do the heavy artillery stuff. That’s that’s that’s pretty much how I am.”
Hicks has two wins as a kickboxer and two in mixed martial arts. He’ll return to the kickboxing ring on Oct. 5.
His preparation started long before the fight. Training for a combat sport requires a weight cut and getting ready for excessive beating on the body.
“It’s a nonstop grind. You have to have it up here, have it in the heart and the hard work pays off,” Hicks said. “You got to believe in yourself.”
The physical and mental battle can get tiresome and that alone can make people quit, he said. However, Hicks has faced additional challenges during his training.
“If you follow me, it’s been crazy because my first three fights as a pro, I lost my grandma, I lost an aunt, and I lost a lady that was like a mom to me …” Hicks said. “It eventually builds up, so after losing two more during this camp, it did get to me.”
The events outside of camp force him to level up.
“I feel like I am in the best shape of probably my pro career,” he said
A walking weight of about 190 pounds, Hicks cuts down to 170 for kickboxing and 155 for MMA on a diet of less than 1,000 calories a day. He said this camp has left him feeling strong as he reflects on his motivation.
“I’m fighting for my family, my daughter. Not only that but to chase a dream because life is, it’s temporary,” Hicks said. “Time goes by quick, so I don’t ever want to look back and be like, ‘Man, I should have, could have, would have.’ So I’m going to give it my all until I catch it.”
Usually a shy and quiet guy, Hicks said a switch flips when he enters the cage.
“I just have that, it’s kill mode, it’s beast mode time,” Hicks said. “It’s time, it’s business.”
Hicks’ Oct. 5 kickboxing bout will be at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City.
