Weasley
Oto przebieg konferencji prasowej przed walką Le Bannera z Abidim (z oficjalnej strony K-1; artykuł Monty DiPietro):
PARIS, May 26, 2004 -- They are compatriots and elite K-1 fighters both, but if you put any stock in the talk that goes on behind the scenes, there is precious little fraternity between Jerome LeBanner and Cyril Abidi. As the K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 approaches, much of the attention is being focused on the card's Superfight showdown between these fierce fighting Gauls.
French passports are about the only things these fighters have in common -- otherwise they are a study in contrasts. Hailing from Normandy, the heavyset, hard-punching LeBanner's tight technical style and killer instinct have made the veteran one of K-1's most feared combatants. And then there is Abidi -- the relatively lanky and cocky Marseilles street punk, a kickboxer whose wild and wide-open style has produced some of K-1's most exciting matches over the last few years.
The pair exchanged heated words during a post-event ring ceremony here two years ago, and there are plenty of other rumors out there (including one about a rumble in a certain French gym last winter) -- but none of that matters now. This Friday in Paris, LeBanner and Abidi will go head to head in a dream bout which has K-1 fans everywhere counting down the hours in anticipation.
In a remarkable display of restraint at the fighter's individual interviews today, LeBanner's trainer and team and the fighter himself remained tight-lipped on the personal relationship between the two men. "I have no comment on Abidi," said a relaxed, casual LeBanner. "I have a responsibility to my fans here in France, in Japan and all over the world. I am a professional and I am here to do my job. I will try to get a KO in the fight, of course, but if that doesn't happen then it doesn't happen. The main thing is I will win."
Abidi, in his interview later in the afternoon, was similarly easy-going -- frequently joking with the media, making light of the scuffle two years ago and pledging to leave the personal stuff outside the ring.
"I am treating this as just another fight, with no special significance," said Abidi. "My personal relationship with Jerome is not important, we are both professionals, and Friday we will fight, that's all. What I will say is that I came to Paris to win, and I want to tell my fans that I won't disappoint." Asked if he had a personal message for LeBanner, Abidi said simply, "No."
The LeBanner/Abidi fight, like all the bouts on the card, will be fought under adjusted rules in deference to the French sanctioning organization's restrictions on knee strikes.
With such drama round the Superfight, one can almost overlook the reason K-1 has come to Paris -- the Europe Grand Prix. This will be a classic eight-man tournament with the winner advancing to the World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome this September.
In the first of the tournament matchups, Japanese fighter Nobu Hayashi of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam will take on French fighter Freddy Kemayo. The second pairing will see Semmy Schilt step in against Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic.
Widely considered one of K-1's most underrated fighters, Schilt has many insiders saying he has what it takes to go all the way here.
"In the past I trained on free fighting but recently I have been focusing on my training on only standing fighting techniques, only on K-1," said the gigantic Dutchman. "This is good, it has taken me back to my Karate roots."
Asked about Belorussian Alexy Ignashov, who is fighting in the second bracket and considered a favorite to defend the European GP Championship he won here last time round, Schilt laughed, "I lost against Alexey two years ago, but that was because he was lucky. I am ready and I am better!"
Aziz Khattou of Belgium will meet Chalid "Die Faust" of Germany in the third bout; and it will be Ignashov and Japanese fighter Noboru Uchida in the last of the tournament fights.
Said Ignashov at his interview: "I have made some changes, I recently did three months of training in New Zealand with Ray Sefo and I think I can see the results of my work now. We worked not only physical and technical training but also on attitude. It was fun and good for me, and I am well prepared. My goal is simple -- to win the tournament. I will do some special new things and although I can't discuss these now, you will see Friday. I would say however don't have a strictly fixed strategy, because I've learned that good things happen when I remain open and flexible."
The K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 is set for 8:00 p.m. local time on Friday May 27 at the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy. The event be broadcast in Japan on the Fuji Television network; on the pay-per-view network inDemand across North America; and on Eurosport and TPS Star in Europe. There will also be broadcasts on a delayed basis in dozens of other countries, check with your local network for details.
Na polski przetłumaczę później, jak będę miał dłuższą chwilę
PARIS, May 26, 2004 -- They are compatriots and elite K-1 fighters both, but if you put any stock in the talk that goes on behind the scenes, there is precious little fraternity between Jerome LeBanner and Cyril Abidi. As the K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 approaches, much of the attention is being focused on the card's Superfight showdown between these fierce fighting Gauls.
French passports are about the only things these fighters have in common -- otherwise they are a study in contrasts. Hailing from Normandy, the heavyset, hard-punching LeBanner's tight technical style and killer instinct have made the veteran one of K-1's most feared combatants. And then there is Abidi -- the relatively lanky and cocky Marseilles street punk, a kickboxer whose wild and wide-open style has produced some of K-1's most exciting matches over the last few years.
The pair exchanged heated words during a post-event ring ceremony here two years ago, and there are plenty of other rumors out there (including one about a rumble in a certain French gym last winter) -- but none of that matters now. This Friday in Paris, LeBanner and Abidi will go head to head in a dream bout which has K-1 fans everywhere counting down the hours in anticipation.
In a remarkable display of restraint at the fighter's individual interviews today, LeBanner's trainer and team and the fighter himself remained tight-lipped on the personal relationship between the two men. "I have no comment on Abidi," said a relaxed, casual LeBanner. "I have a responsibility to my fans here in France, in Japan and all over the world. I am a professional and I am here to do my job. I will try to get a KO in the fight, of course, but if that doesn't happen then it doesn't happen. The main thing is I will win."
Abidi, in his interview later in the afternoon, was similarly easy-going -- frequently joking with the media, making light of the scuffle two years ago and pledging to leave the personal stuff outside the ring.
"I am treating this as just another fight, with no special significance," said Abidi. "My personal relationship with Jerome is not important, we are both professionals, and Friday we will fight, that's all. What I will say is that I came to Paris to win, and I want to tell my fans that I won't disappoint." Asked if he had a personal message for LeBanner, Abidi said simply, "No."
The LeBanner/Abidi fight, like all the bouts on the card, will be fought under adjusted rules in deference to the French sanctioning organization's restrictions on knee strikes.
With such drama round the Superfight, one can almost overlook the reason K-1 has come to Paris -- the Europe Grand Prix. This will be a classic eight-man tournament with the winner advancing to the World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome this September.
In the first of the tournament matchups, Japanese fighter Nobu Hayashi of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam will take on French fighter Freddy Kemayo. The second pairing will see Semmy Schilt step in against Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic.
Widely considered one of K-1's most underrated fighters, Schilt has many insiders saying he has what it takes to go all the way here.
"In the past I trained on free fighting but recently I have been focusing on my training on only standing fighting techniques, only on K-1," said the gigantic Dutchman. "This is good, it has taken me back to my Karate roots."
Asked about Belorussian Alexy Ignashov, who is fighting in the second bracket and considered a favorite to defend the European GP Championship he won here last time round, Schilt laughed, "I lost against Alexey two years ago, but that was because he was lucky. I am ready and I am better!"
Aziz Khattou of Belgium will meet Chalid "Die Faust" of Germany in the third bout; and it will be Ignashov and Japanese fighter Noboru Uchida in the last of the tournament fights.
Said Ignashov at his interview: "I have made some changes, I recently did three months of training in New Zealand with Ray Sefo and I think I can see the results of my work now. We worked not only physical and technical training but also on attitude. It was fun and good for me, and I am well prepared. My goal is simple -- to win the tournament. I will do some special new things and although I can't discuss these now, you will see Friday. I would say however don't have a strictly fixed strategy, because I've learned that good things happen when I remain open and flexible."
The K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 is set for 8:00 p.m. local time on Friday May 27 at the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy. The event be broadcast in Japan on the Fuji Television network; on the pay-per-view network inDemand across North America; and on Eurosport and TPS Star in Europe. There will also be broadcasts on a delayed basis in dozens of other countries, check with your local network for details.
Na polski przetłumaczę później, jak będę miał dłuższą chwilę
Mirko Cro cop: http://www.sfd.pl/temat200862/
F. Emelianenko: http://www.sfd.pl/temat200031/
Ricardo Arona: http://www.sfd.pl/Ricardo_Arona_-_profil_+_biografia-t202915.html
Krzysztof Piekarz
saib__
