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The
first IFK World Weight Category took place in Moscow and was a superbly
organised event with many top class fighters from 31 different countries. The
Federation of Kyokushin Russia did an excellent job as hosts for the event that
was covered by Russian television.
The
lightweight section got underway as Murakaev (Russia) defeated Dimitrov (South
Africa) and Bouchard (Canada) score ippon against Dangare (India) to set up a
second round clash. After an even first round Murakev produced one of the
techniques of the tournament to KO his opponent with ushiro mawashi geri. Weeks
(Great Britain) overcame Nekrasov (Kyrgistan) in a hard fought match and then
scored ippon against the strong Baranowski (Poland) with a low kick. Appaev
(Russia) had a classic match against Tajev (Germany) with the Russian coming out
as victor. Mitchell (Great Britain) started well as he defeated the impressive
Zimmerman (Canada) on decision and repeaetd this to defeat Kasdiev (Kazakhstan)
in the next round. A run of disqualifications followed as Halter (Switzerland)
punched Krasnoschok (Russia) in the face, and the excellent Babiloni (Spain) who
was a wazari up after a jodan mawashi geri knocked Ozdemir (Holland) out with a
head punch. Volkov (Ukraine) came through and did well to continue after he was
knocked out with an illegal technique by Nikolskly (Latvia). Florin (Russia)
looked in exceptional form defeating Priess (Germany) and Bilan (Russia) to
progress. Next up was the 53kg Mayez (Lebanon) who showed all his spirit to
defeat Pfondler (Switzerland) before losing narrowly to Erdembileg (Mongolia).
The quarter finals saw Murakaev and Weeks endure a hard fought battle with the
Russian coming through on weight. Another Russian progressed as Appaev
overpowered Ozdemir. Mitchell could not make his extra weight count as he lost
to the Ukrainian Volkov on the scales. Florin was again in devastating form as
he pummeled Mongolia's Erdembileg to book his spot in the semi finals. in a the
first semi final the
which was an all Russian affair as Appaev and Murakaev squared off. Both
fighters gave there all but Murakaev came through on weight. Volkov looked to
try and win via the scales in the other semi final but Florin was relentless
with his non stop attacking as he was deservedly awarded the fight. Appaev
claimed third place as Volkov was hampered by his injuries in a one sided fight.
The final was a repeat of the previous year's Russian Championships final with
the same result as after a close first round florin used his extra weight to
overpower Murakaev and gain a unanimous decision to be win the World Title.
In
the middleweight category Sprecher (Switzerland) started well defeating Madden (Australia)
and then Kuznetov (Turkmenistan). The very strong Seal (Great Britain)
defeated Markov (Bulgaria) in a six minute battle before overcoming Laessig
(Germany) in another six minute fight. Lont (Holland) started in ferocious form
by defeating Duda (Poland) with a series of heavy low kicks and then Lavie
(Canada) with a jodan mawashi geri in just 25 seconds which was the fasted KO of
the tournament. Belekon defeated Al-Masri (Lebannon) and then the impressive
Yousuf (Pakistan). Warden (Great Britain) started well defeating Higgins
(Australia) and then scored an ippon against Lindegger (Switzerland). Pashuk
(Russia) looked very impressive defeating the lively Stopani (USA) and then
Burai (Germany). Fitzpatrick (Ireland) gained an ippon for jodan hiza geri
against Fouad (Lebanon) and then defeated Marzholov
(Russia) in a six minute battle after a very close fight. IFK European
Lightweight Champion Szeligowski (Poland) fighting at a higher weight struggled
against Khasanov (Bulgaria) and then defeated Baloch (Pakistan). In the first
quarter final Britains's Seal despite appearing the stronger of the two fighters
did not do enough to get the decision against Sprecher and as a results the
Swiss fighter went through on weight. In what was looking like the potential
fight of the tournament Lont unfortunately knocked out Russian Champion Belekon
which brought about a disqualification for the Dutch fighter and put Belekon out
of the tournament and thus leaving Sprecher with a place in the final. In a real
war the Russian Pashuk could make his extra weight count against Warden who
moved well and relied on counter attacks to eventually scrape through on weight.
Fitzpatrick against Szeligowski was another six minute battle as despite the
Pole's amazing fighting spirit he had no answer to Fitzpatrick's surges in the
final round and the Irish man went through on decision. There was only to be one
semi final due to Belekon's retirement meaning Sprecher was into the final to
face the winner of Fitzpatrick versus Warden. Warden, the lighter man managed to
keep Fitzpatrick at a distance and after a series of hard fights Fitzpatrick
appeared less fresh than in previous rounds, the net result was after the fight
was declared a draw Warden took the place in the final on weight. Due to
Belekon's absence Fitzpatrick claimed third place. The final was made up of two
light middleweights so it was set up for a tight encounter, Warden however did
not read the script and caught Sprecher with a superb low kick to gain an ippon
and the middleweight crown.
In
the heavyweight section Ntumazah Great Britain) used
all his experience
to defeat the 115kg Elkanov (Russia) on weight. In the next round four time
British Champion Ntumazah defeated Abe (Japan) in a tight match. On the other
side of the draw the giant Zobnin (Russia) looked awesome by defeating Litvinov
(Kazakhstan). Kobayashi (Japan) looked impressive defeating Gray (Australia) but
lost to the near seven feet tall Zobnin after being caught with w ell executed
hiza geri fo a wazari). Daley (Ireland) defeated Purevdorj (Mongolia) before
losing to Struchkov (Latvia) on weight. In the quarter finals Ntumazah
defeated Batir (Kazakhstan) to make the last four. Daduev who had previously
beaten Aliev (Latvia) then defeated Gelashvili (Georgia) to
set up a fight against Ntumazah. Daduev talk the fight to Ntumazah and made the
British fighter work very hard and in the end took the fight as a result of the
scales. In the other semi final double Russian Champion Zobnin battered the
Latvian Struchkov who never gave up to book his place in the final. Struckov
took adavntage of Ntumazah's previous fights by putting the pressure on to take
the decision and give the Latvian third place. Daduev fought valiantly in the
final but had no answer to his compatriots size and strength as Zobnin won by a
unanimous decsiosn after two rounds to be the deserved winner of the heavyweight
title.
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