I JESZCZE OSTATNIE INFO PRZED ZAWODAMI:
TOKYO , December 5, 2003 -- On the eve of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final, the eight finalists in the tournament appeared in a series of press conferences at the Shin Takanawa Prince Hotel in central Tokyo . The winner will leave Tokyo some US$400,000 richer, and so there is a great deal of excitement around the world this weekend, and not a small amount of pressure on the eight fighters vying for the world's richest martial arts purse.
The first bout will feature ex-IBF Champion Francois "The White Buffalo" Botha. The South African boxer debuted in the new fighting sport at the October 11th Final Elimination in Osaka , where he was disqualified for a vicious uppercut to the prone French kickboxing Champion Cyril Abidi's head. The blow would have been a decisive nice coup de grace and impressive KO were it not that, under K-1 rules, hitting an opponent when he is down is totally illegal. Botha, post-bout, said Abidi was afraid to get up and fight. At the Final, Botha's opponent will once again be Abidi.
Said Botha today: "I'm very confident I'll take Abidi out like I did the first time, except this time I'm going to do it legal."
How will you deal with those Abidi kicks, Francois?
"I can't let him kick me, although I have been working on blocking and kicking, and that is going to take more time. But one day, I'll be Bruce Lee!"
Abidi has a new trainer, Didier Leborgne, who for the last two months has been working to help Abidi prepare for this tournament. "He will keep his hands up," said Leborgne. Added Abidi: "I am very happy to have a rematch with Botha, he is a boxer, so I will not stay still, I will move around. The thing is, to win by the rules, I am not here to argue about the rules with Botha, I am here to win a tournament."
The tournament's second matchup sees Australian Peter Graham taking on Remy Bonjasky. According to American K-1 fans, Bonjasky is the favorite to win the tournament. The Dutch fighter is ahead in a poll on Scott Coker's K-1 USA Website. Ringsport guru Mike Sloan had this to say: "Bonjasky should walk away as the winner. He is young, tough and determined." And Bonjasky's appeal is not limited to the USA -- says Marko Ervasti , Editor in Chief of Sweden 's Fighter Magazine: "Remy Bonjasky will win, He has the quality of a true champion, he is young and has great fighting spirit."
Funny thing, nobody expects much from Australian Peter Graham, who is dead last in the poll on both the K-1 USA and the K-1 Official Website polls. Graham had this to say at the press conference: "I know lots of people say I'm a little lucky to be here. I know Remy is a good fighter, but I came here to win."
Let's see, last time we had an underrated fighter from Oceania in the K-1 Final, well that was a couple of years ago. The fellow's name was Mark Hunt, and nobody expected him to do much. It sure came as a surprise when he won it all. Hmmm. Go for it, Peter, the world loves an underdog!
The third fight will pit five-time World GP participant Musashi of Japan against Ray Sefo of New Zealand . Sefo went to the last bout in the 2000 GP Final, losing against Ernest Hoost by decision. He also finished third last year, and there are more than a few insiders who consider Sefo the toughest K-1 fighter out there. Unfortunately, for this tournament he is less than 100%.
"I have not trained for the last three weeks because I was sick in bed with a cold, aches and fever," said Sefo at the press conference. "We thought about pulling out but my team and I decided that it was important for me to be here for the fans, and also for me, because you work your ass off all year to get to the Grand Prix. I really have no game plan except to go there and knock Musashi out. And then move to the next fight. All I can say is that when the bell goes, as long as I am still standing, then someone is in trouble."
K-1 commentator and writer Michael Schiavello thinks Sefo has what it takes to win: "If there is one man in this line up who has the experience, power, savvy and hard jaw to win it, it's Ray Sefo."
Don't forget heart, Sefo has plenty of that.
But Musashi, who has been sparring with Frankie Lyles, also has plenty of experience, will have the home crowd behind him (although Sefo is much loved in Japan ), and says he is confident and ready: "I respect Ray Sefo, and whatever his condition, I will do my best."
There have been few matchups this year as anticipated as the Peter Aerts /
Alexey Ignashov fight that will close out the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Dome. Aerts is a three-time World GP Champion, while Ignashov, undefeated in the K-1 ring this year, is the overwhelming favorite to win it all on the K-1 Official Website's survey of Japanese-language fans.
Indeed, many insiders are convinced that this match will determine the tournament's ultimate winner. Aerts is the sentimental favorite. Says Henk Verschuur, a professional referee with over 5500 fights, and partner in Jeroen Winters' MAN Magazine website: "That grand old man Peter Aerts has the best papers to win this year's final. He is in excellent shape and he is an athlete capable of coping with the pressure of prestige. The first hurdle, Ignashov, will be a tough one and looks like a grand final in itself. My prediction is that the winner of this fight will be the winner of this remarkable day. I think that Peter is still too strong for Ignashov, who tries to look lazy but is as sharp as ever." Winters agrees: " My all time favorite is Peter Aerts, and this year it might be an excellent chance to grab the title for the 4th time."
Meanwhile, other experts, like Stephen "The Fight Professor" Quadros, one of the world's leading martial arts personalities, are going with rising star Ignashov: "I am picking Alexy to win, he has youth plus experience on his side, and appears to be peaking at the right time. Ignashov's power is what will probably be the difference."
At the press conference, both Ignashov and Aerts were guarded with their comments. Said Ignashov "It's my second time at the Tokyo Dome, my opponent is my friend." Said Aerts, "I'll fight the best I can for my fans."
The reserve fight will see K-1 USA Champion Carter Williams take on tall Swiss fighter Bjorn Bregy. Due a recent K-1 rule change, if any victorious fighter cannot advance due an injury, it will be the winner of the reserve fight who will advance in his place, which makes it very possible that one of these boys may end up in the tournament.
Martin Holm will meet Jan "The Giant" Nortje in a Superfight.
Closing the press conference, K-1 Event Producer Sadaharu Tanikawa said, "There are five new fighters in the final eight this year. The new generation has arrived, I am looking forward to some great action!" Tickets for the Final sold out in less than two hours, and some 70,000 spectators are expected at Japan 's largest indoor venue.
The K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final starts at 17h00 JST on December 6th (03h00 EST; 08h00 GMT). Watch the action on your local television broadcast, or check the K-1 Official Website for official results, pictures and story soon after the final bell.
A więc dla nieznających angielskiego, najistotniejsza kwestia: zwycięzca reserve fight Bregy-Williams zastąpi ewentualnego kontuzjowanego zawodnika w turnieju głównym!
Poza tym dołożyli superfight Holm-Nortje...
Dlaczego nie można tego zobaczyć na żywo???
>>What now? I tell you what now. Now I'm gonna call a couple of pipe niggers with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. They will get Mediaeval on your ass! You hear me now, hillbilly boy!?<<
Anjew
Krzysztof Piekarz
Aerts
Anonim
