the wise and otherwise speak
So maybe you can sense some of this author’s opinions on some fighters, but what about the experts. What are their opinions? Well here you go. I’ve asked some "experts" to write down a thing or two about the middleweight kickboxers that they are familiar with.
Masato
Cactus:
Masato definitely has the most skill out of Japan’s middle weight kickboxing class. It’s understandable why he wants to look to foreign fighters for a challenge. His punches and kicks are a pleasure to watch. They are quick, crisp, powerful, and focused. His determination and stamina are unparalleled. Unfortunately he’s let it go his head. Arrogance and cockiness practically seem out of his pores. Being a model and wanna be actor sure doesn’t help tame that out of control ego. What he needs are a bunch of fights like the one against Albert Kraus at the K-1 2002 tournament to send him crashing back down to earth where everyone belongs. All fighters need to remember that more discipline often equals more skill. Just because Masato obviously has more discipline and focus doesn’t mean that he’s untouchable.
Duane Ludwig
Cactus:
Dwayne is not a favorite of mine. The first kickboxing fight I saw him in was against Masato, so maybe that’s why his skill seemed somewhat lacking. I did not feel overly proud of America in that tournament. I think if a country wants to compete in a certain sport they should give it their all. Not just half ass the training and support they give the competitors and then wonder why they don’t excel. Another fault of Dwayne’s is that he actively competes in mixed martial arts. Any true kickboxer should be ashamed. The fighters in mixed arts have no punching or kicking skills. They slap very well and always end up on the ground, which is the only time they accomplish anything. It’s basically a waste of time and effort to start off in a façade of stand up fighting. They can grapple, that’s very true, but that’s all they can do. It’s an insult to karate, kickboxing, etc. to pretend that they’re anything more than grapplers.
Takayuki Kohirumaki
Cactus:
This is one of my favorite fighters. He is second best in Japan, next to Masato. He isn’t marketed as well since most of the media’s focus is elsewhere (no names). For instance, most of the clips the Japs use to depict Kohi’s fighting abilities seem to be after he’s been working out for an hour or so. His punches are slow and sloppy by then and he looks as if he’s about to fall over. His skill is also in question due to some of his more questionable techniques, such as locking up frequently whenever he’s tired or in trouble (which seems to be quite often) and kicking people while they’re down. This happens a lot and such behavior makes him look like quite a pussy. There are also some sketchy wins against foreign opponents. His K-1 fight with Marino Deflorin is a prime example. During the first round and after almost no action, Kohi lands a knee to Deflorin's abdomen and the man drops like a hat. After watching him train and seeing his action in the ring, it is completely unbelievable that he would go down that easily. Doesn’t seem to add up. All things aside, Kohi trains very hard and obviously has talent to get as far as he’s gotten. Hmm…after reading this it doesn’t really seem like he’d be anyone’s second fave. Maybe that statement was made more for the fact that he’s Japan’s real pretty boy (screw Masato) and less for his fighting techniques.
Bam bam:
Kohi is gay, so if you like Kohi, you're gay too. I'm all about
kicking people while they're down, but not in a dignified match like K-1. He
can't even make it look like an accident. Kohi is like the the rich
stupid politician who gets away with everything for whatever reason I
can't figure out. How can you justify letting this guy into K-1, he's a
chump. Monkey-man needs to put him down. Yes, it's true I'm a member
of the Kohi Fan Club, but I'm inactive, and I'd leave if I was able, but
I can't. You see, the Kohi Fan Club is like a gang. There's only one
way out, and that's death. And in true Kohi fashion, they get you
while you're helpless.
Genki Sudo
Cactus:
There’s so much that can be said about Genki, albeit nothing good. He is a complete disgrace to the sport of kickboxing and to Japan. I can’t fathom how the Japanese can hold their heads up high while he is in the ring. His whole strategy is to annoy his opponent to the point where they aren’t focusing and let their guard down. He also relies on his "unique" fighting style to throw them off guard. This is done by jogging around the ring, "dancing around" in front of the opponent, leaving his hands at his sides, and turning his back to the other fighter. The complete lack of respect Sudo shows for his opponent and the sport is appalling. He makes a mockery of the institution. That kind of behavior should not be tolerated. To this he adds his most famous move; a spinning back fist. When he’s actually doing what could be considered "fighting" the spinning backfist is usually what he does. If not that, then a sidekick while holding onto the ropes. Not many fighters choose to use a sidekick in kickboxing, since it has proven ineffective. If he desires to continue with such techniques, he should relocate to China, where his choice of moves would be accepted and even applauded.
Bam bam:
This dude is the shit! He is truly a misunderstood fighting
genius. Some so-called "experts" may say that his techniques are sloppy
and annoying, but they aren't seeing the big picture. All the greatest
fighters have had unusual fighting styles. Ali danced, laid on the
ropes, Roy Jones, Jr. fights with his hands down, taunting his opponent
with his ever-elusive head. Sure, Ali and Roy Jones, Jr. actually won
fights with their fighting styles, and poor Monkey Man isn't quite as
prolific as them, but he's obviously just luring the world into a false
sense of security until he suddenly reveals his true awesomeness and takes
over the world, or at least wins K-1. See, he's a long-term
strategist. He doesn't just think about the fight at hand; no, he builds up our
lowered expectations over a long period. Truly, Sudo has many fooled,
but not me. Sudo is one of the greats-to-be.
-apr/18/2003-
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