2002 Top 10

[Blitz Editor]

Hi Guys,

Just doing an opinion poll for next issue of Kickboxer: Magazine

Who do you think are the top ten Australasian fighters for 2002?

Ozkan?
Dawson?
Sefo?
Hunt?

List your opinions from 1-10...

[JANER]

My Top list is ( I cant name 10 fighters):


5. Jenk Behic (keeping busy and competetive in every fight)

4. Daniel Dawson (winning Judgement Day III)

3. Michael Zambidis (Anhilated Jenk and won a 8man overseas)

2. Jason Suttie (taking out k1 New Zealand and KB4)


and my opinion on the BEST FIGHTER FOR 2002 is.... and I bet you all know who I am about to anounce!!!! lol haha


1. THE SUPREME FIGHTING MACHINE - "GURKAN OZKAN"

What hasnt he done.... Need i say more?????

[allanf]

2002 Australia's best fighter will have to be Gurkan Ozkan no doubt about that, runner up, Michael Zambidis.

[Glenn]

You guys are kidding???
Dawson has fought all over the world AGAIN this last year against world class fighters in Muay Thai, Modified Thai and Shoot-boxing.
He is easily Australias number one fighter of the last year.

[Glenn]

And Zambidis??, he's not even Australian!!

[paul c]

I don't know about the rest of the ladder, but I genuinely believe Ozkan has had a great year, and would deserve serious consideration as being Kickboxer of the Year.

Hunt, man how long ago was it that he was fighting on small shows at the local soccer club.

Phenominal rise. The guy is just so naturally tough. I reckon he could of walked in off the street before he even started training and defeated half the guys in our local Heavy-weight circuit. He just absorbs shots that would cripple most of us.

[Glenn]

Honestly, how could you compare Ozkans year to Dawsons and Hunts?
Hunt won the K1 Grand Prix and I have already mentioned Dawsons acheivements (who I believe is Australia's best fighter in the last year).

[Byzantos]

(in no order)

Mark Hunt
Daniel Dawson
Nick Kara
Gurkan Ozkan
Jason Suttie
Ray Sefo

[paul c]

Glenn,
Dawson is a great fighter. I think he's the most technically gifted I've seen.

Getting news on what he's been up to is pretty hard sometimes. I saw a fox fight of his earlier this year which was brilliant,(the one where he looked rocked bad, but later came back to win the fight). I also saw him win Judgement Day live, and unfortunately that's all I've seen. I'd bet many others on this board wouldn't know a great deal more than that either.

I don't doubt you though.
He's a world class fighter, and I imagine he'd win just about every fight he's in.

[remy]

Mark Hunt does not represent Australia. He represneted NZ at the k-1 GP. He lives in Australia, but he fights under the NZ flag which is fair enough. THat's where he is from.

[John K]

Both Hunt and Zambidis are not Australian, they represet New Zealand and Greece respectivly.

[Julie_Livet]

Daniel Dawson all the way!!

[Sucuk]

dawson beat vegies in judgement day III and why did he pull out of k1 max? gurkan is up there but we must see the winner in k1-max next week so we confirm i would say if zam wins the event he would take over gurks who is in number one spot but if you argue zam isnt australian then he is out of contention

[delusion]

Your right Janer Gurkan is the greatest MaN

[K UNEM]

OZKAN, DAWSON, ZAMBIDIS

[Spartan boy]

my top 5 (in order) 1.M.Zambids(first of all he has been bloody brilliant since he's arrived in Australia and has only lost one fight in aus aggainst mike cope). 2.John Wayne Parr(fought really good aggainst M.zambidis but i guess only the best wins). 3.Gurkan Ozkan(I liked the way that gurkan has fought all year he's has always strong and when he's lost a fight he hasn't gave up) 4.Nick Karra(Karra has been a good fighter since he started no dout about he's very fast, overall he's just a very good fighter and i think should move up a division). 5.Jenk Behic(he's a good fighter no dout about that but probably hasn't had the best year but has been fighting exellent).<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

STEVEN KONTAKOS

Edited by - spartan boy on 02 Dec 2002 10:29:07

[harls]

G'day Jeremy, I would suggest that either Daniel Dawson/Aaron Leigh/Jenk Behic could take 1st, also you would have to look at Soren Monkongtong, Nathan Corbett, Kurt Findlayson, Ashley White, John Hallford, Paul Slowinski, Wayne Parr...I would've suggested Mike Zambidis but he represents Greece. There are quite a few blokes that have done well this year! :)

[JANER]

Spartan Boy, Gurkan hasnt lost a fight this year.

[Dannyboy]

I believe the best fighters in Oceania for 2002 should be decided by who was the busiest and most successful, not just for fighting once a year and winning a single bout, no matter how big a match it may have been.
Daniel Dawson
Mark Hunt
Soren Monkongtong
Gurkan Ozkan
Jenk Behic
Greg Foley (he's fought 4 times that i'm aware of which is more than most fighters could claim).
Kurt Finlayson
Wayne Parr
Shane Chapman
Ray Sefo
Zambidis is not a resident/citizen of Australia or New Zealand that i'm aware of, so like the other blokes have already said he cant be counted until he is.

[JANER]

Thanks Danny Boy! This is what I reckon about the fighters you mentioned:

Daniel Dawson - Should of competeted in the "real" 8 man Tournament named K1 max but didnt compete. Which leaves Zam, Jenk and Wayne Parr an edge ahead.

Mark Hunt - Hasnt done nothing this year

Soren Monkongtong - Done pretty well, I reckon he would be Top 2.

Gurkan Ozkan - Beaten the best super middleweight thrown at him and beat "Australias" (not NZ) Best Current Heavyweight fighter. And both fights Gurkan was a huge underdog.

Jenk Behic - Lost toooooooo many important fights, but competitive.

Greg Foley - Didnt he get knocked out cold?

Kurt Finlayson - Cant remember seeing him fight this year (cant comment)

Wayne Parr - A loss against Zambidis isnt enough to win the title

Shane Chapman - Lost k1 max and Lost Judgement Day 3.

Ray Sefo - Top fighter but yet to show his potential!


What do you reckon dudes? I still have Gurkan at Top Position...
(I guess Zambidis, Mark Hunt and Ray Sefo are disqualified?)

[HaLfCaST]

hey janer how r ya! dude i lost ur number ive been wanting to call you up and speak to you. Do you have a copy of the fight with gurkan and adam watt cause i would love to get a copy of the tape i lost mine!

[harls]

In response to janer,

Daniel Dawson- fighting and all over the place, even boxing. Won Judgement day 3, which is no less of a feat than winning K-1 max( which had 3 no names in the 8 man line up).

Mark Hunt- True, hasn't really done much this year to my knowledge.

Soren Monkongtong- I agree.

Gurkan Ozkan- Has been busy, has been winning although some view his
last fight as being dodgy. Not much for sportsmanship
but definately working hard.

Jenk Behic- Heart as big as a lion's, true sportsman and always gives
110%. Remember winning isn't everything, if this was all
about winning, there would be no opinion poll because
the person who wins the most fights would automatically
win the title of kickboxer of the year.

Greg Foley- Only got KOd after the bell(watch the replay against
Ashley White) in a fight he was clearly dominating. True
sportsman as well.

Kurt Finlayson- Gold medallist in international amateur muay thai
championships in Thailand. Made the final in the
supa 8 against Soren in Qld.

Wayne parr- Ripped off in the K-1 max against Zambidis(watched
the replay thurs night at training and believe
he was robbed worse than I thought earlier). Also
Defeated Behic in Qld.

Shane Chapman- Not the best year for chopper, but has put in
gutsy performances(against Jeremy Allen).

Ray Sefo- I agree.

P.S. Jeremy did state "Australasian" fighters, so Hunt and Sefo would be eligible but Zambidis still wouldn't be.
:)

[sethridge]

i think your all wrong daniel dawson is clearly the best. followed by soren monkongton then arron leigh. i dont rate gurkan for starters he doesnt even kick hard. hes basicly a boxer, he wont fight with knees. and who has he fought latly aurthor GEEE that was a tough fight NOT. chopper chapman,dawson,pixie,ts2,the preacher,soren, and any other muaythai fighter fight much harder fights than kickboxers
. and also my trainer rhino recently fought soren monkongton and totally smashed him ko in 4th round. and marwin another fighter from our gym which is phons muaythai.in wa. fought ben burton and won on points. soren and pixie are rated top2 welterweights in aust. yet they lost to 2 fighters in wa. i think wa fighters are seriously underrated.


Edited by - sethridge on 09 Dec 2002 21:08:57

[remy]

Sethridge, just curious to how old you are?

[sethridge]

22 how old r u? do you train martial arts remy?

[K UNEM]

DO U DROOL WHEN YOU SPEAK SETHRIGE???

[mark pease]

Hi Sethridge

With Daniel i agree, but the first time we came to Perth Sorren Ko'ed Kahlid and Pixie beat Rhino and Aaron was stopped by Chris white.

Yes the next time Rihno won and Pixie went the distance with Marwin and lost to a poor result but we did not complain we were happy just to go the distance with a rated lumpinni fighter, who by the way is THAI!!!!! not Australian.

And Aaron Ko'ed Chris White so i think everyone may be talking about Aust fighters not guys from eleswhere..

But you have my vote with Daniel Dawson

Cheers Mark ...

[sethridge]

hi mark , just want to say that i think you are one of the best trainers in aust and enjoy watching fighters from your stable, they are truly world class! And yes i agree it was a poor decision, i watched the fight and i thought pixie had won.

[sethridge]

when pixie fought rhino. that was his 1st fight back after 8years. but take nothing away from pixie he is definitly world class.... does anyone know who arron leigh is fighting next and when?

[mark pease]

Hey Sethridge

Aaron is off to Thailand in Febuary for 6 weeks at Eminent Air Boxing Camp in Bangkok so he will fight over there and then hopefully when he gets back we will know who he will fight but as yet we have nothing, it is getting harder now for him as his weight is normally 53kgs and there is not many guys around that weight.

Cheers Mark

[harls]

Yeah Aaron Leigh is one tuff cookie! Hope he does well in Thailand. He sure is great to watch and I see him as one of the years top Australasian fighters.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

[mark pease]

Harls

Thanks, we think he has done alright as well the guy is always full of energy even at training so Thailand should do him well. It will change him as a fighter and hopefully him a good focus for the rest of the year..
Cheers Mark...

[sapsed]

Very interesting choices guys very interesting!!!!!!!

1-Gurk's
2-Behic
3-hunt
4-dawson
5-Gotta go to Mark Mullen hahaha kiddin!!!
5- seriously though goes to Kara gotta give credit where credits deserved.

T/s

[K UNEM]

WHO IS MARK MULLEN?????

[harls]

Mark Mullen is a novice kickboxer who is trained by the "silver fox" Fyfield out of the underworld gym in Melbourne. He is an explosive walk up fighter who shows loads of potential.

[Julie_Livet]

My vote still goes to Number 1, The Rock Daniel Dawson. Can't stop tha ROCK!!
Maybe Soren he won the brute force supa 8, or Kurt Finlayson would be a close 2nd. Kurt has been very active and I watched him fight in the IFMA World Championships in Bangkok, and he fought absolutely awesome. And I agree Pixie and Aaron Leigh have done great through the year.
There are many fighters who deserve mentioning. But they're the ones that come into mind.

[harls]

Can't argue about your choices Julie, the three blokes you mentioned have all had stellar years. Likewise Aaron Leigh, he's been very active fighting and he captured an Australian title from Kristian Tri-ming, and the destroyed Panya M-16 to claim a world title if I'm correct.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>