By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Recent Marshfield graduate, Kade McManus has punched his ticket to the 2019 Golden Gloves competition in Chattanooga, TN.

McManus delivered a first-round knockout in Madison on March 16 to become state champion in the in 165 pound division and secure his spot in nationals – a goal he has been working steady for the past two years.

“I started April 2017; I started at Dr. (Patrick) ‘Sully’ Sullivan’s house,” McManus recalled. “I worked out there all summer, then he told me that I should come to Gust (Gym), so I could start competing and there are good coaches up here.”

Though his training started in 2017, the path to boxing began early in his childhood, as Kade is the youngest kid in the McManus family – with three brothers and one sister.

“Ever since I was young, it was like keeping up with them, keeping up with their friends,” he said. “My mom always says that anywhere they were, I was two or three steps behind trying to keep up. It just kind of bred competition. No matter what we do – whether it is brushing our teeth in the morning – we’ve always got to compete.

“I am a very competitive person. My brothers, we just kind of always competed, so I kind of find that boxing is like the ultimate competition. It’s the like the hardest sport in the world. It is harder than football, which two of my brothers do, and it is obviously harder than soccer. It’s like I am competing in the toughest sport.”

McManus trains twice a week at the gym, but works with Dr. Sullivan nearly every day. He said that he enjoys the singular rivalry of the sport.

“I’ve always like one-on-one sports. I started out with soccer when I was younger, but one-on-one sports are kind of like the ultimate competition.

“It’s a very natural thing putting two people against each other and just saying ‘Let’s see who is better.’”

However, Kade’s goals reach beyond Golden Gloves competition.

“I actually want to do more (Mixed Martial Arts), so my ultimate goal would be to fight in the (Ultimate Fighting Championships),” he added. “It is all of the martial arts together – boxing, jujitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, kick-boxing.”

McManus is considering moving to Milwaukee in the fall train for UFC competition.

“You have to be good, and you have to make a name for yourself,” he said. “It is kind of like self branding.”

McManus will compete in the 2019 Golden Gloves of America tournament, May 4-12, in Chattanoga.

If you are interested in learning more about the Gust Gym Boxing Club, contact Dan at 715-207-9453.