Dozens signed up for the chance to take part in the fifth edition of Agency Wars. Over several weeks, they tested their mettle against professional coaches, strict trainers and their own physical limitations. Twenty four of those brave souls have been chosen to enter the ring at Toronto’s Arcadian Court on Nov. 26.
Marketing is profiling the men and women who’ve shed blood, sweat and tears for Ronald McDonald House and NABS. What makes someone step in the ring? Meet the fighters for the Red and Blue teams to find out.
Ford Shirriff – Red Team
Job Title: Director of Business Development
Agency: Pattison Onestop
Nickname: Home Wrecker
Why did you decide to take part?
The decision was easy – it’s for a great cause, it improves your fitness & conditioning, it brings the industry closer together and of course presents a new challenge one gets to overcome…..and you get to hit people in the process.
Have you ever done anything like this before (boxing, fighting)?
Never – competitive sports, yes … but boxing/fighting no.
What do you like about it?
As crazy at is sounds, I love the pain and adrenaline from all the training. As young professionals it’s hard to find the time to commit yourself to this kind of fitness regiment (without some sort of deliberate goal at stake). That and the opportunity to get to learn the sport from a 7x Canadian Heavy-Weight champion (Mark Simmons) is really a blessing.
What’s the toughest part of training?
The training is the easy part – we all want to be there. It’s the commitment to the diet plan which is the killer…
What have you picked for your walkout song? And how is it representative of who you are as a fighter?
DMX – Ain’t No Sunshine … it’s a very dark track that (to this day) still spends chills down my spine and moreover, the biggest gangster in UFC history (Anderson Silva) used it as his entrance song once upon a time…
What message do you have for your opponent?
Canada was kind enough to help the Brits in WW2 – that will not be the case on November 26th…
Mike Smith – Blue Team
Job Title: Freelance Copywriter
Nickname: Hitman
Why did you decide to take part?
Who wouldn’t? Certain opportunities stand out as completely unique and demand to be prioritized. I knew immediately upon learning about Agency Wars I would try out, and signed up without hesitation. It appeals directly to that exact fantasy we all get from Rocky, and with honesty, perhaps those [knockout] daydreams feed a repressed ego I don’t like to acknowledge.
Have you ever done anything like this before (boxing, fighting)?
No. I spent a few months last year training at Sully’s Boxing Gym on Dupont Street in Toronto, but didn’t explore boxing beyond the workout. I have never fought or sparred.
What do you like about it?
I’ve loved everything about the process so far and I’m filled with excitement at the thought of the event itself. I’ve also loved forging such a unique circle of friends in such a short period of time. I can’t wait to watch and cheer the Blue team on fight night!
What’s the toughest part of training?
Lunges are the worst part of training. I’ve always enjoyed staying active so once I fell back into the rhythm of regular training, and especially with a very clear goal to work towards, the difficult stage was the initial transition from working out three nights a week to seven. That’s not to say the conditioning and other physically demanding aspects of the training aren’t tough – they work us hard!
What have you picked for your walkout song? And how is it representative of who you are as a fighter?
I want to walk out with confidence and a sense of humor. We’ve been told that although we may train hard as a team throughout this process, for six minutes on the night it’s a disciplined solo effort, so I want to feel comfortable and in control – That’s what my song will do for me.
What message do you have for your opponent?
I’d hate to fall short on a promise to send him packing, so I’ll wish him the best of luck. That’s more than he needs from me. Let’s let the walk speak for itself, and save the talk for later.
