MUAY Thai champion Steve “The Smashing Machine” McKinnon of Castle Hill is preparing for the grudge rematch of his life despite undergoing throat surgery just weeks ago.
The Bulldog Gym heavyweight fighter will face off against the Gold Coast’s Nathan “Carnage” Corbett at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre six years after the pair fought in Sydney with Corbett claiming victory.
But the upcoming fight on September 1 was in doubt several weeks ago when McKinnon fell ill while sparring in the United States with UFC fighter Hector Lombard.
“I thought I had tonsillitis, but it ended up being an abscess on my tonsil and I was in hospital for six days,” McKinnon said.
“I had to have surgery where they basically cut my throat open.”
“I’m good now and preparation is going well.”
McKinnon is confident going into the fight on the Gold Coast because he is a “better fighter”.
“I’m just glad to get the fight happening. I’m a totally different fighter and so is he (Corbett),” said McKinnon.
“The way I train these days has changed. I have more experience.”
McKinnon said despite the fight having a lot riding on it, he would treat it like any other.
“Every fight is the same for me and I always feel like my life is on the line. I don’t want to win this more than any other fight,” he said.
“When I step into the ring I am on another planet.”
“I calm myself before the fight because the fire is already there that’s why I meditate and head in to the ring in the right frame of mind.”
McKinnon will have plenty of support by his side when he heads north, with his brother Stuart as one of his trainers, along with David Millwood and Nick Stone.
“Every man and his dog will be there,” he said.
By News Limited Newspapers
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