Q: Lately, the ongoing story in K-1 has been the sudden rise in interest in the sport from boxers like Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, Francois Botha, and even David Tua. What is your opinion of this possible influx of boxers into the sport of K-1 and how do you think fighters who excel in one dimension of the sport, like they do, will fair against someone like you who is known for being a well-rounded fighter?
A: You know what? Those guys aren’t ready. They’ve got the physical ability to do the sport. They’ve got the nice boxing skills, knockout power. Every guy you just named right now has got great knockout power. The only thing that’s gonna happen with this sport with me in it is that I’m gonna get better. I’m gonna get quicker. I’m gonna get smarter with this sport.
These other guys are at their best ability ever. They’re not gonna get no better. They’re not gonna get no hungrier than they already are. They made great money in boxing and they’re trying to come over here and say ‘Well, we can take K-1 fighters.’ They’re not understanding it yet.
Once they open the doors and come step in the ring of the K-1 and they get kicked in the face like Butterbean did (Butterbean was knocked out by 1996 K-1 World Grand Prix Finals runner-up Mike Bernardo on September 21st in Japan), then they’re gonna realize ‘We should have stayed in boxing.’
These guys are strong. But, they’re not ready for K-1. I don’t care - ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson or not. He gets so frustrated, he has to bite people’s ears. Come on, Mike. You can’t do that in kickboxing. You better stick those teeth somewhere else. I’m serious. Boxers - they wanna play. We could play.
I’m ready for anybody that K-1 has to offer me. They’re not ready for the kicks. I want to see this, though. I can’t wait because I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I’m ready for anybody these people put in the ring. Knocking out a person like Mike Tyson would give me and K-1 a better name. So I say bring it on. Bring it on!
"Nie narzekam chociaz jestem nizszy niz Cleant Eastwood, chociaz nigdy nie dolacze do grona kulturystow, chociaz nie znam setek przyslow. Nie narzekam, bo fruzie wola optymistow!" [Lona]