Battle for Muay Thai Crown Supremacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26 October 2011

New Zealand's rugby prowess has been confirmed, but now it's time to see what New Zealand's best middleweight Muay Thai fighters have to offer.

On the back of the successful King of the Ring heavyweight tournament in May, the middleweight contenders are ready to step up to the challenge of King of the Ring MAX (Middleweight Action Max).

There will be no fumbles, no poor kicks and no lack of momentum in this exciting mix of established fighters and rising stars, placed in the electric atmosphere of a K-1 rules eight-man tournament.

Friday, October 28, will see NZ's top middleweight contenders stepping forward to show the agility and power these 72kg fighters can lord over their heavyweight counterparts that graced the ring back in May.

It will be exhilarating, faster-paced combat action, as top level fighters like Jo “Southpaw” Hopkins, Brad Riddell, Edwin Samy and Dimitri Simoukov vie for dominance in one of the country's finest fighting contests,

But where do these gladiatorial combatants stand in the face of such a challenge?

Riding high on the back of Four NZWKBF Light Middleweight Champion and the NZ WMC Light Middleweight title, Jo Hopkins is “pretty stoked” about the opportunity to make his name platinum in NZ circles.

“I think my fitness is my biggest thing. I'm as strong as ever and I've always wanted to fight in an 8-man - since I got my first title. It's a really good (fight) card as well.”

With the winner of the competition having to defeat three opponents in a single night the tournament will give these fighters the best opportunity to prove their middleweight mettle on the national circuit.

But Brad Riddell – a new face on the North Island scene - Edwin Samy (ETK, Auckland) and Dimitri Simoukov (ETK, Auckland) - are up for the challenge.

“It's good to fight in NZ again,” says Samy.

“It will be a fight like Jason Suttie and Andrew Peck - back in the day,” Samy says about his expected battle with “Dimitri 'Molotov' Simoukov .

“I fought in China recently, but lost on points. It's been really good. Jason's (Suttie) been pushing us a lot,” says Samy.

“It's a big step up to fight internationally. I've got a few kgs to lose, but I'm not rushing myself. “

For his part, Simoukov is not one to be cowed by statistics.

“I took a holiday, trying to get my degree finished.”

Always thinking ahead, Simoukov knows that “once we finish fighting we have to do something else.” And a bachelor of construction is his speed.

“It's been a busy life fighting in the last nine years, but I told Jason (Suttie) that I want to get back in the ring - and he put me in the ring in Australia.

“I trained hard and fought a good fighter there. I thought he had a couple more in him, but I've been training for the last few months.

“I want to end my career on a good note, and show New Zealand I still got it,” he says of the upcoming fight show.

8-man Fight card (may change due to conditions):
Edwin 'Electric' Samy (ETK, Auckland)
Girish Rae (Fi-G Training, Dunedin)
Taylor Holland (Pathai Gym, Auckland)
Joe 'Southpaw' Hopkins (City Lee Gar, Auckland)
Brad Riddell (City Lee Gar, Auckland)
Dimitri 'Molotov' Simoukov (ETK, Auckland)
Sonny Sadler (Hardmans Gym, Northland)
Brendan Varty (Harleys Kickboxing, Masterton)

WKBF World Heavyweight Title Superfight:
Antz 'Notorious' Nansen (ETK, Auckland)
Current NZ Heavyweight King of the Ring 2011
Current NZ WKBF Heavyweight Champion
vs
Erik 'The Mustang' Nosa (Bustler’s Gym, Sydney)
Current WKBF World Kickboxing Heavyweight Champion
NSW State Kickboxing Champion
NZ Amateur Golden Gloves Champion
NSW Metro Boxing Champion

King of the Ring MAX Superfight
Chris Wells (SMAC) vs Joey 'The Filipino Kid' Baylon (ETK)

King of the Ring Max – 8 Man Elimination
Fight Style: Kickboxing
Date & Time: Friday, October 28, 2011 – 6:30pm
Details: ASB Stadium, Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama, Auckland
Tickets: $35

ENDS

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