Byzantos
02-03-2003, 03:04 PM
From Axkickboxing
Defending K-1 World Max Champion Albert Kraus of the Netherlands came up against a very determined opponent in Australian Mike Zambidis in this classic international showdown, with K-1 Holland promoter Daan Enneking working Kraus' corner, and K-1 Oceania promoter Tarik Solak over in Zambidis'. Before the bout Solak had remarked that he would be "very surprised if Mike didn't get a KO," and I might have dismissed this as bravado, were it not that Solak's manner, unlike his suits, is usually reserved.
As it happened, Solak had every reason to be confident. Zambidis, a fierce-looking fellow with a shaved head, gave Kraus no respect, wasted no time in launching quick and clean attacks. The best strike of the first round was a Zambidis straight right that connected squarely on the nose of the switch hitting Kraus, who was fighting from the southpaw stance, and looking very uncharacteristically tentative. To start the second round, Kraus switched to an orthodox stance, leading with his left, and just as I was wondering how this might change the fight, Zambidis delivered his answer loud and clear. A mere 16 seconds into the round, after a feeble Kraus jab glanced off Zambidis' head, the Aussie came up and over with a brutal right that sent Kraus crashing to the canvas. The Dutch fighter bravely started to get up, but, well, it is a safe bet that he no longer knew just what way, exactly, was up, because he then fell straight back down. The referee had a look at Kraus' eyes, and seeing that the poor boy was off in la-la land, stopped the fight.
It goes without saying that this was a terribly disappointing outing for Kraus, but full credit is due Zambidis, who, at 22, is now the fighter to watch in K-1 World Max.
Defending K-1 World Max Champion Albert Kraus of the Netherlands came up against a very determined opponent in Australian Mike Zambidis in this classic international showdown, with K-1 Holland promoter Daan Enneking working Kraus' corner, and K-1 Oceania promoter Tarik Solak over in Zambidis'. Before the bout Solak had remarked that he would be "very surprised if Mike didn't get a KO," and I might have dismissed this as bravado, were it not that Solak's manner, unlike his suits, is usually reserved.
As it happened, Solak had every reason to be confident. Zambidis, a fierce-looking fellow with a shaved head, gave Kraus no respect, wasted no time in launching quick and clean attacks. The best strike of the first round was a Zambidis straight right that connected squarely on the nose of the switch hitting Kraus, who was fighting from the southpaw stance, and looking very uncharacteristically tentative. To start the second round, Kraus switched to an orthodox stance, leading with his left, and just as I was wondering how this might change the fight, Zambidis delivered his answer loud and clear. A mere 16 seconds into the round, after a feeble Kraus jab glanced off Zambidis' head, the Aussie came up and over with a brutal right that sent Kraus crashing to the canvas. The Dutch fighter bravely started to get up, but, well, it is a safe bet that he no longer knew just what way, exactly, was up, because he then fell straight back down. The referee had a look at Kraus' eyes, and seeing that the poor boy was off in la-la land, stopped the fight.
It goes without saying that this was a terribly disappointing outing for Kraus, but full credit is due Zambidis, who, at 22, is now the fighter to watch in K-1 World Max.