Amsterdam witnesses K1 return
Peter Aerts (right) prepares to deliver a knockout blow to Bob Sapp
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Tuesday, 26, Jun 2007 04:57
The world's premier kickboxing show made a triumphant return to the Netherlands on Saturday as more than 18,000 fight fans packed into a sold-out Amsterdam Arena for the K-1 world grand prix.
In addition to the eight-man grand prix tournament that gives the show its name, the Dutch crowd was also looking forward intensely to the scheduled bout between Peter Aerts - fighting in his home city - and US behemoth Bob Sapp.
Sapp, who controversially pulled out of a bout in the same venue at the last minute in 2006, was roundly booed by the crowd as he made his way to the ring, in stark contrast to the deafening standing ovation that greeted Aerts in what was easily the most rousing reception of the night for any fighter on the bill.
Those few in the arena who backed Sapp to win the bout were quickly disappointed as he was taken out before many had even had a chance to sit down again. Sapp made a clumsy bull-rush towards Aerts at the opening bell and was rewarded with a huge knee to the midsection from the Dutchman.
Sapp crashed to the floor and slid almost entirely under the bottom rope, grimacing in pain. He was unable to beat the referee's count and Aerts was declared the winner by knockout mere seconds into the fight.
The crowd were incensed, showering the ring, and Sapp, with drinks, food stuffs and other projectiles. K-1 officials looked like they feared a riot and Aerts took the microphone from the ring announcer to appeal for calm. He told the fans he was sorry it was such a short fight and said next time he hoped he would be given "a real opponent".
In the eight-man grand prix tournament, Muay Thai practitioner Paul Slowinksi beat his first two opponents to face Swiss karate stylist Bjorn Bregy in the final. Both are aggressive fighters and the crowd were rewarded with a spectacular knockout when a powerful right hand from Slowinksi staggered Bregy and sent him crashing to the canvass.
Having won the European tournament, Slowinksi goes through to the final elimination round which will see him battle it out with the winners of the five other regional grand prix events for a shot at the world grand prix title in Japan later this year.