Dean swaps board for boxing gloves
DEAN ‘Dingo’ Morrison will step into the boxing ring for his first fight tomorrow night, marking yet another chapter in the Cooly kid’s inimitable sporting career.
The ex Quiksilver Pro champion and revered big wave surfer will appear at ‘Boxing Mania’, a huge fight night at the Seagulls Club in West Tweed.
Morrison, 37, was scheduled to appear at the King of the Coast Challenge last December, but the bout fell through.
Training at the Kingscliff Boxing Stables ahead of his Saturday fight, Morrison said boxing, in many ways, is not all that dissimilar to surfing big waves.
“There’s nowhere to hide and you are all by yourself,” he said.
“There are a lot of parallels. I’m used to having a crowd. I’ll be nervous but I’m kind of used to that environment.
“You need balance and to remain centred in both disciplines. I’ve surfed my whole life but I’m just learning the basics in my boxing.
“But from there, you get the basics down and evolve your own style.”
Morrison, whose big wave mastery has earned him the respect of his peers, said he is now enjoying a different kind of challenge.
“It’s all learning and applying yourself to a new skill. It’s great having something to train for and a new thing to learn,” he said.
“I think I’m drawn into the science of the sport. It’s a lot more than standing there and copping punches in the head. It’s the angles, the ability to hit and not get hit.”
But if you want to see ‘Dingo’ in the ring, make sure you get down to Boxing Mania - it could be a one-time only deal. “I’ll box forever, but I don’t think I’ll have too many fights,” he said. “It’s something I like to do to keep fit.”