KlasH 4: Superfights Report/Pic./16 dec. 2007

KlasH 4: Superfights

KlasH promised to give the Dutch fightfans an urly Christmas present and that is what they gave to a Sold Out Rusheuvel Arena on 16 december. Introducing K1 Max Superstar Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus in KlasH is a fantastic achievement for a fightleague launched only a few months earlier.
As always KlasH is looking for new champions and gives them a chance to shine on a big stage fighting side by side with the bigger names. It is clear that this gave us some great fights. All this combined with a fantastic show gave the audience and a few million viewers all over Europe a great Superfights fightnight.

The young guns:
Rico Verhoeven (It’s Showtime/Superpro) is a 110kg/18 year old future of heavyweight bazooka!! This very technical heavyweight wonder is trained by topnotch trainer Dennis Krauweel who will guide this young prospect in what is to become a future heavyweight champion. Verhoeven displayed a very powerfull and skilled fight against Polish fighter Sokolowski who must be the man with the biggest hart in town. In trouble after some great combo’s the polish proud fighter didn’t want to quit resulting in a fantastic fight. A very clear win for Verhoeven.

Unbeaten Rini Van Gelder(Team Kraus) is a punching wonder and did all that against smart Armenian/ Belgian fighter Levon Akopian (Team HTK) giving the crowd an action packed fight. Van Gelder tried to force he’s punches on Akopian but was outsmarted by a well prepared counterstrategy. Akopian one step ahead in the action won this great fight of two popular future stars.

If KlasH is looking for the next “Hurricane” it is clear that they just had to look close to “Team Kraus“ to see the younger copy of Albert Kraus in this 18 year old Jordy v/d Sluis(Team Kraus). Explosif boxing skills and a very hard lowkick in the legs is all that was needed to destroy Giovanni Politzi(Team MPJ).

Main Event:
The KlasH Superfights started with Sücs Barnabas (Romania) vs Geoffry Spittael (Team HTK/Belgium). Barnabas did very well in KlasH 3 winning over experienced champ Florin Vintila and confirmed to be at the right place at he right time in KlasH. Spittael not used to fight with the knees did what he could to try to break the solid Barnabas defence but it just didn’t happend. Barnabas was smart enough not to get in a slugfest and used sharp knees and fast middlekicks to keep Spittael on a distance. Very good second win for Barnabas in KlasH.

Introducing MMA in KlasH 3, it is clear that MMA will have a place in season 2. Adrian Stoiti (Romania) vs Apo Atacome(Tchaad) gave us a very hard and controversial fight. Stoiti dominating with very aggressive offensive gameplan in R1. Strangely enough Stoiti is wobbling and cant get out of he’s corner to bring us the second round. Almost fainting Stoiti is carried out of the Arena and Atacome is decleared winner of this fight. A rematch between these two is inevitable.

When host Tom Wesselink announces the entrance of Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus, the Arena is on their feet and it is clear how popular the man is. Özkan Köse has the difficult job not only to face this K1 Max star in great shape. The local Kraus legion is in the house and is backing their favourite to the win. Kraus will show some great skills against this Köse in trouble a few times in the fight. Connecting with the usual fast boxingcombo’s , Kraus will also show some hard lowkicks and sharp knees forcing Köse in the ropes. Brave Köse is outpointed at every stage of the fight and Kraus is the decleared winner.

Bastien Huveneers(Belgium) vs Hans Stringer(Team Superpro) is the next MMA fight of the night. It does not take long to bring the two guys to the ground. Stringer is a highly skilled groundfighter with a Ju-Jitsu background and is trying to force this on Basteneers. After two rounds it is the more dominating Huveneers taking the win over Stringer.

Romanian Mircea Calatiu, after 3 fights in KlasH popular in Romania is welcomed by the Dutch fans. Trying to force he’s gameplan on Polish fighter Dudek, it is clear that Dudek watched the previous KlasH on television and came with a good tactical plan to take the win on points after three very exciting rounds.

Mesut Derin (Ubeda Gym) vs Tahir Menxhiqi (Team Superpro/Kosovo) is a fight showing us loads of kicks on both sides. Both fighters wants to keep ahead on the scorecards and the excitement level is high in the fight. After three rounds the scorecards are even and an extra round is needed to declare the winner. This extra round is finished after a short punch trade between the two leaving Derin with a cut above the eye. Menxhiqi wins the fight on Medical Intervention.

The rematch between Lindo Profas(TB Den Haag) and Karim El Jouhrati(Morroco) delivered the expected war. Urly on Jouhrati in trouble after a well timed left hook. Taking the 8-count Jouhrati is in need to take the pace on gear up. A slugfest in round two settles the scores and round 3 will deside on who is to take the win. Again both fighters are trading kicks & punches at a very high pace. The scorecards giving a very close win to Jouhrati it is clear a 3th fight between the two is needed to deside the better man.

Henri Van Opstal (Team Kraus) was already rocking in Romania and wants to show even more to the local Dutch fans. Facing Harut Gregorian (Armenia) it will not be an easy job but early on Van Opstal is showing some great stuff. Gregorian stays dangerous throughout the fight but Van Opstal seems unbeatable in this great fight. After 3 rounds Van Opstal takes another clear win in KlasH but big thumps up to Harut Gregorian who took the fight at short notice.

The KlasH director Alex Baciu took some time to come in the ring and thanked the audience with the support and promised a very exciting KlasH Champions Battlefield Season 2008.
End of KlasH 4, end of a very good season 1, up to season 2.