Curly Howard
10-16-2003, 08:19 AM
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[October 14, 2003] TOKYO, October 13, 2003 -- The draw for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final was made today at the studios of Fuji Television, produced what many insiders are calling the best possible card for the December 6 Tokyo Dome event:
Fight 1: Cyril Abidi vs Stefan Leko
Fight 2: Peter Graham vs Remy Bonjasky
Fight 3: Musashi vs Ray Sefo
Fight 4: Alexy Ignashov vs Peter Aerts
As usual, the K-1 Final Eight Pairings were determined through a process which involves a mixture of luck and strategy: Each of the fighters randomly select a ball with a hidden number, from one through eight. These numbers determine the order in which the fighter will move to the stage, where they are free to install themselves in any vacant position at the base of the eight-man tournament tree, these spots indicated by A to H (A will fight B; C vs D, and so on). The selector may, therefore, elect to pair up with a fighter standing next to a vacant spot, or, he may instead opt to avoid that man and position himself beside a still-empty spot. Generally, the first couple of fights are preferred, as these afford the winner longer rest periods between bouts on tournament day.
Stefan Leko drew the first number, and took the 'B' spot (for "Blitz"?), which put him in the blue corner of the first fight. Next up was Peter Graham, who elected to avoid Leko and take the 'C" spot, the red corner in the second fight.
Leko was passed over again by Remy Bonjasky, who went for the 'D" spot, opposite Graham. And again, the next selector, Ray Sefo, stayed away from Leko, opting for the 'E' spot -- red corner, third fight.
"I chose Peter because he's new, like me," said Bonjasky; while Sefo explained he had stayed away from Leko "because I like to have other fighters pick me."
Similarly, selecting fifth, Alexy Ignashov found the 'G' spot, putting himself in the red corner for the fourth bout, where a fighter would have to pick him.
Next up was Musashi, faced with the choice of either Leko, Sefo, or Ignashov. The Japan GP Champion thought for a good long while before stepping up beside Ray Sefo. "Ray beat me before at the Tokyo Dome [in the 2000 Final]," said Musashi afterwards, "so I thought I would take another shot at him, try and get some revenge."
Cyril Abidi had the penultimate choice, and, also looking for revenge, bravely gave Leko an opponent for the first fight. "I lost to Stefan on points in Nagoya [in 1999], and so I'll try and beat him this time, explained the French kickboxer. "Also, I wanted to fight first rather than last."
Peter Aerts thus got the spot beside Ignashov, in what will surely become one of this year's most heavily anticipated matchups.
"I didn't have much choice," said Aerts, "and I'm sure it will be a hard fight, because he's a tough boy."
If Aerts wins the Final, it will be his fourth World GP Championship and that will tie the Ernesto Hoost's total. If any other fighter wins, it will be their first.
The brackets look good, really the most telling thing about the draw was how many fighters chose to stay away from the spot beside Stefan "Blitz" Leko. The Croatian keeps getting better, in fact he is undefeated in 2003. Did fighters avoid him out of fear?
Leko offered his own explanation: "I think maybe none of them wanted to fight me because they are all my very good friends!"
[October 14, 2003] TOKYO, October 13, 2003 -- The draw for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final was made today at the studios of Fuji Television, produced what many insiders are calling the best possible card for the December 6 Tokyo Dome event:
Fight 1: Cyril Abidi vs Stefan Leko
Fight 2: Peter Graham vs Remy Bonjasky
Fight 3: Musashi vs Ray Sefo
Fight 4: Alexy Ignashov vs Peter Aerts
As usual, the K-1 Final Eight Pairings were determined through a process which involves a mixture of luck and strategy: Each of the fighters randomly select a ball with a hidden number, from one through eight. These numbers determine the order in which the fighter will move to the stage, where they are free to install themselves in any vacant position at the base of the eight-man tournament tree, these spots indicated by A to H (A will fight B; C vs D, and so on). The selector may, therefore, elect to pair up with a fighter standing next to a vacant spot, or, he may instead opt to avoid that man and position himself beside a still-empty spot. Generally, the first couple of fights are preferred, as these afford the winner longer rest periods between bouts on tournament day.
Stefan Leko drew the first number, and took the 'B' spot (for "Blitz"?), which put him in the blue corner of the first fight. Next up was Peter Graham, who elected to avoid Leko and take the 'C" spot, the red corner in the second fight.
Leko was passed over again by Remy Bonjasky, who went for the 'D" spot, opposite Graham. And again, the next selector, Ray Sefo, stayed away from Leko, opting for the 'E' spot -- red corner, third fight.
"I chose Peter because he's new, like me," said Bonjasky; while Sefo explained he had stayed away from Leko "because I like to have other fighters pick me."
Similarly, selecting fifth, Alexy Ignashov found the 'G' spot, putting himself in the red corner for the fourth bout, where a fighter would have to pick him.
Next up was Musashi, faced with the choice of either Leko, Sefo, or Ignashov. The Japan GP Champion thought for a good long while before stepping up beside Ray Sefo. "Ray beat me before at the Tokyo Dome [in the 2000 Final]," said Musashi afterwards, "so I thought I would take another shot at him, try and get some revenge."
Cyril Abidi had the penultimate choice, and, also looking for revenge, bravely gave Leko an opponent for the first fight. "I lost to Stefan on points in Nagoya [in 1999], and so I'll try and beat him this time, explained the French kickboxer. "Also, I wanted to fight first rather than last."
Peter Aerts thus got the spot beside Ignashov, in what will surely become one of this year's most heavily anticipated matchups.
"I didn't have much choice," said Aerts, "and I'm sure it will be a hard fight, because he's a tough boy."
If Aerts wins the Final, it will be his fourth World GP Championship and that will tie the Ernesto Hoost's total. If any other fighter wins, it will be their first.
The brackets look good, really the most telling thing about the draw was how many fighters chose to stay away from the spot beside Stefan "Blitz" Leko. The Croatian keeps getting better, in fact he is undefeated in 2003. Did fighters avoid him out of fear?
Leko offered his own explanation: "I think maybe none of them wanted to fight me because they are all my very good friends!"