golden glory statement why Leko isn't fighting

haven't seen it on this forum yet, so I'd thought i'd post it;

The reason why Semmy Schilt and Stefan Leko are not fighting is:


K-1 got Botha for an enormous amount, it is rumored that HBO is interested in him, for K-1 it would be their break-through in the States as long as they don't get any tax problems like they had (having) in Japan. However, we hear that K1 America may soon be involved in some tax dispute with the IRS due to underreporting of payments to fighters who participated in the K1 USA events and if this happens, then there could be serious issues with K1 being able to do events in the US and also keep their PPV deals.
Further more Botha signed a deal with K-1 for the future and also will do pro wrestling, perfect for K-1.

As they now have realized Sapp will never be a K-1 GP champion, they need to create new Bob Sapp, as he generated millions of Dollars for K-1. K-1 is becomming like Formula 1, the one who brings in the most money is qualified and all the tournaments are a joke!

That's why Leko and Schilt are not fighting, especcialy Leko, wo is a big favourite for this year.
Concerning negotiations and contracts, read the following:


K-1 promised Sem Schilt two fights for a set amount including participation in the last 16 because of his qualification in 2002. K-1however didn't follow that agreement, they made Schilt fight Bonjaski and paid him less then agreed upon.

They also didn't broadcast the fight on Japanese
television and Eurosport (they wanted to promote Bonjanski who at that time wanted to sign (which he now did) for a number of years, so he can be the next champion, but of course Botha is preferred. As a reward K-1 sent Bonjanski to Las Vegas so he could still qualify (by the way congratulations Remy).

K-1 got Semmy and Stefan to come to Osaka and told Semmy a day before the fight to go home, without any excuse or payment! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (they put injured Sem Greco in who had been away for two years and send the total prepared fighter Schilt home (of course if Semmy would have won from Peter Graham they had two golden glory fighters in the final and after Semmy destroyed Bonjanski, K-1 know this was not an option for them).

At that time an offer was made to Semmy and Stefan in writing (as I ask, I got sick of all their promises) Semmy could fight, but K-1 style, for less money than agreed of course. Stefan got also an e-mail with an proposal to participate in the GP finals on the 6th of December. This offer was accepted by the management and the fighters. K-1 confirmed this with an e-mail, they were happy the offer was accepted Oktober 21TH (believe me, It's managment didn't want to accept "it was a rediculas offer" ,but decisions are made together with trainers and fighters). It also said in that e-mail K-1 wanted to offer a contract to Leko for next year for four fights and a set amount.

That's when the problems started. K-1 started threatening; if you don't sign this offer for next year you won't fight the finals this year. At the same time they decided not to have Schilt because I would not sign Leko's 4 fight rediculas offer if he became champion and because Schilt vs. Botha is too much of a risk.

So K-1 sending an official message out to all K-1 parties saying Stefan/management and K-1 couldn't come to an agreement because of financial reasons is not true.

There is an agreement (and proove of it, by e-mail correspondence) that Semmy as well as Stefan/management had agreed on the amount to fight on the 6th of December.
I even wanted to except their offer for the next year because Stefan wanted to fight so bad, he prepared like never before. Stefan made alot of costs by getting good sparringspartners and travling, vitamines etc, he even offered: after negotiating with me, to go to Tokyo without me (if this could help to bring him back in the tournament) and called K-1. But I told him before he called K-1, Stefan K-1 have their own agenda and you are to dangerous for them (you could win, it has nothing to do with me, this prooved even more that there was no managment desipute over money!). They underpaid Stefan for years and made a lot of empty promisses, if he would win and K-1 would not have a contract , they know they could expect though negotiations (they always try to work out the manger like this).
Finally Daisuku should come to the Tokyo Hilton when I was in Japan with Pride, he should come with the papers for the 4 fight deal for next year, however when I was in the taxi, Daisuku called, he was sick and could not come. Nobody else could provide me with those contracts, so that was it!

K-1 knows all too well that after the drawing, nobody choose Leko, and in the current line-up, Leko stood a good chance to win.
That's why they took this course of action, which has nothing to do with negociations of 'acting accordingly', but is very distastefull and has nothing to do with doing business.

K-1 did everything to find a way to get Francois Botha in (who maybe brings a tv deal with HBO and signed a longer deal with K-1 and will fight prowrestling ), unfortunately for K-1 does Leko had a good manager and a good business men, With K-1 threats threats and manipulation and no room or time for what they called "negotiations" and not honour their agreement ,Bas Boon thinks that these two golden glory fighters are simply to good for K-1. They are both young, strong, very good conditioning with the right trainings methods both are potential K-1 winners.

I had enough of all these strange ways of doing 'business', lies,threats and other not-business-and-sport-related things. That's why no one canaccuse me anymore of miss managing Leko. I had agreed to K-1 prposal and they acknoledge this.
I wanted to wait till after the tournament as I have full confident in Stefan, but that is not possible with K-1.

I just want to promote manage and create good quality fighters, champions and believe me a whole new jong generations is prepared by Cor Hemmers and other GGtrainers you will hear from them soon!

I know Leko is in top shape en feels like winning. Why wouldn't hestand a chance of winning? (He beat Peter Aerts twice, Abidi and Bonjaski.) Win and earn the amount of $450.000.-!!! Do you really think
management and fighters would refuse the chance to that for a few dimes? Or was K-1 looking for an excuse to get the two Golden Glory fighters out, who both had a good chance of winning? Could it be
because both fighters would have no contract after this K-1?

And why didn't Schilt fight Peter Graham but an injured Sam Greco who'd been away for two years (were did Sam Greco qualify)? Bring some money, fight for almost nothing, or, bring a tv-deal and you automatically qualify for K-1. Now Botha who only fought for 90 seconds and got DQ, replace Leko who beat this year Mike Bernardo, Peter Aerts (tko), The Geat Kusatsu (k.o), Fhilo and Bas van de Muisenberg (k.o) in
the year 2003.

Stefan Leko fought hard fights against tough opponents and qualified trough a brilliant fight with Fhilo
almost knocking him out in round three. Semmy Schilt who debuted his first stand up K-1
fight against Mushashi and won, the draw against Hoost (strange decision, Semmy won
all rounds),then knock out in round three Mac Donalds and qualified in 2002. In 2003 he fought only once and he really gave Bonjaski a beating in Japan, his reward: no fights

Two golden glory fighters in top shape in the prime of their life, this would be their K-1. Now they are just reading the forums and gets millions of phonecalls of sympatised peoplewho think it is the biggest scandal after the tax problems from Mr. Isshi.
Tv stations like Eurosport who planned a whole special on Semmy and Stefan, made months of
preparation for nothing.
All this because K-1 does not honour their agreement (and see more $$$$ signs in the person of Botha, were did he qualify, its is a shame a bloody shame.

Signed,
Bas Boon

I could tell about a lot more dirt about K-1, but K-1 forced me to bring out the truth as I as a manager have been accused by many in having my own agenda and not acting in the best interest of the fighter.
Herbey the truth of what really happend. Today one of my partners called and he had a phone call conversation with K-1. Even now on December 1 st , they still are trying to play games, they told my partner that Stefan was out now but that he and Semmy could fight next year, but that they did not want to work anymore with Bas Boon. (instead of blaming themself and making things right, they make it worse, K-1 style).

Bas Boon, Stefan Leko, Semmy Schilt, Dave Jonkers, Cor Hemmers and whole Golden Glory team!!!

-- bytehway, I'm not connected in anyway to golden glory