Why H'HUNTER vs EVAN will be better than you think

[admin]

Only a few weeks now until the next Melbourne major show with Tarik Solak heading back to the Melbourne Town Hall (the site of Australia's first ever kickboxing show, believe it or not, back in the 70s) to put on the K-1 Oceania qualifiers and a main event between Evan "Gladiator" Themelakis and Headhunter.

On paper this may not look like the most ferocious or spellbinding contest but I believe in reality it will prove to be a ripper of a main event. Why?

Well, both men have excellent knockout power and knockout rations on their records. We all know what Headhunter can do with his amazing roundkicks off both legs but word is that his hands are looking the goods now down at the Underworld Gym and his leg kicks are hitting the target with power. Being trained by the genius "Silverfox" Paul Fyfield you can bet that Headhunter will be prepared a treat and that Paul will have worked out a game plan. He was ringside with HH last weekend over in Sunshine to watch Evan and Sot.

As for Evan, well, he had a big year in 02 and is coming off a tough fight against Sot Soliminidis, who many though Evan should have beaten much easier. Some people have said that Evan was deliberately taking it easy to conserve himself for HH, but I've also spoken to people close to Evan who say he was off his game for whatever reason and it doesn't augur well for him to look like that only three weeks out from the HH fight. Evan has knockout power in his hands and his legs and will test HH in both departments.

This really is an intriguing main event... sure it's no Ozkan or Zambidis but we've had several threads where people have encouraged 'new blood' to come through and that's what Tarik is doing by elevating Evan and HH to main event status. I'm all for finding new main eventers and this is both men's big chance to climb another step in their careers. Both are teetering on that edge of the mountain between semi-main event and main event status... once you hit main event status you're expected to take on the big guns of the division such as the Hallfords and the Tais and the Tsakonas's and the McKinnons... well, this is the last stop for either Evan or HH before they begin fighting these big guns.

Anyway, just my thoughts. On paper it may not look like much but the more you examine this fight the more intriguing (and hard to pick) it becomes. Most people here backed Evan on the poll I posted (even though I doubt all of you have seen Evan fight as he hasn't been a regular feature on Fox shows)... I wonder if after having seen him last weekend struggle against Sot if your opinions have changed.

I'm looking forward to a great fight. Hope to see you there.

PS: Another highlight will be Paul "The Sting" Slowinski's K-1 debut... big hype on Paul... big expectation. I hope he comes through with the goods. GOOD LUCK!

MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO
- Editor -
INTERNATIONAL KICKBOXER
FOX SPORTS
SKY TV NZ

[remy]

Michael, has the undercard been finalised yet? Who will we most certainly see in the K-1 qualifiers? New blood is good, but at semi main event level. I'll probably still end up going, but being spoilt over the years with Tarik main events, this feels like an anti climax. Even though it might be a ripper of a fight, I don't doubt that it could be. When is Jenk going to return? And when is Ozkan fighting?

[paul c]

I'm also curious as to when Behic and Ozkan are going to be on the shows also.

I'm kind of concerned they may end up fighting on the QLD or Sydney shows, because neither are listed for the next couple in Melbourne. Though, Sydney isn't too too far to travel for a great show, but QLD is kinda tough for us so far south.

[JANER]

Remy I think all of us have been spoilt in the last 10 years. I think Tarik has now realised that no matter who he puts on the show, that people will still turn up... The no respect show has brought many more people to the sport. Old time supporters like us on sportz blitz may **** a coin to go.. Im just waiting for the Official undercard on whether or not ill be there. Face it, Im not a supporter of either nandex or evan. Dont get me wrong but I like head hunter but I have never ever seen evan fight before. I know ill still go.. its like a regular outing for the boys and I. I just hope i dont grow out of it!

[Rickstar]

Jenk will not fight until mid this year!
he is heading back to Turkey to train at his fathers place. He said he has too many distractions here and he just needs to get away and be on his own! Work, rest, and sleep in a gym. He wants to get that A1 fitness back and then have another all-out assault on trying to get a world title. All the best to the guy- He is one tough son of a *****!

Increase the Peace.

Rickstar

[paul c]

Wow, cool.

It's already April, so that's not too far away.

We all have our favourite fighters, but love him or not, I think just about everyone will agree that Jenk gave us some incredibly exciting fights last year. I really can't wait to see him fight again.

All the best to him also,


True story guys.

Whenever I go to Sydney to work with my Cousin (who owns his own construction company), we always get together on Sunday mornings at our favourits coffeeshop in Googee with pretty much his entire crew, and watch soccer games on the shops video player. Anyways, last time one of the guys forgot to bring in the soccer videos, and had everyone screaming at him. So, I just happened to have a video of K1-Max 2002 in my car and brought it in.
These guys were so impressed, most of them didn't think such a sport was legal in Australia. Hehe, they were freaking out about guys getting kicked in the head. Most of them are Croatians like me, and are too tight arsed to pay for fox, so the vid was a real education on fight sport.

Anyways, they were all going mental by the time Behic V Zambidis was half way through. Hehe, and I swear people that weren't even with us were getting into the video just as enthusiastically. A couple of the guys got up and applauded after the Zam V Behic fight was over, and were mumbling stuff about 'Crazy Turkish'. I've been asked to bring more video's next time, so I'm trying to track down Behic Vs Dawson for them. They'll be having fits at that one.

[admin]

Hahahaha what a classic! Nice one Paul.

My mates were the same for Stan vs Ozkan fight... they're not into kickboxing but wanted to watch that... also they now like to watch BOB SAPP - lol. Sapp vs Hoost from Saitama last October rocked.

BTW everyone, more details on the APRIL 28 UNDERCARD now on www.tariksolak.com.au

MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO
- Editor -
INTERNATIONAL KICKBOXER
FOX SPORTS
SKY TV NZ

[Pieman]

Know what you mean Paul and Mike got a few friends who live, eat and breathe Football(Aussie Rules) but they always like going through my tape collection and love the big KO's. They made me rewind Hunt/Amada from the K-1 Melbounre show in 2001 about a billion times, Tyson's greatest hits is another favourite with the crew.

Slowinski/Cocconut Crusher - Could Tarik have found a bigger Heavyweight for Paul to face in Oceania?

Should be an interesting clash.



Paul Briggs -> Number One!
"A Champion is someone who gets up when he can't". Jack Demsey.

[Human Factors]

I am one of those guys who have been reading rather than posting. Its about time I put my 2 bob in!

Better than we will think!? Are you serious?? Tariks worst main event for the past 10 years. Both fighters records are just 20 fights in total.

He has lost all his main fighters and is desperate to make something happen. Schiavello is the best guy to help out with the promoting etc etc But its all hype. If a fight is good who needs hype and who needs crap commentating? I suppose that most of the under cards are sub-standard and a little bit of sad jokes keep me watching. Its all over for the super promoter...

Rock concerts... gees, we are getting desperate!

PS- Glad to here about Jenk

[harls]

The only guy I really want to see on this show is Paul Slowinski.

[Rickstar]

Yeah cummon Mr svhiavello.

You are like a god to me and i respect nearly everything you say, but a good show? Bulls@#t! This aint a main event! These guys i think are still 4-5 good fights away from being called a main event, and i mean QUALITY fights. Evan is straight from the B-grade scene and has not fought on a major show undercard yet, not to mention his last fight was sub-par if you are now calling him a main event a-grade fighter.

Although people have said Evan took it easy on the Solomonidis fight i don't think it is a good enough excuse. Not to mention i don't beleive that theory and let me give examples why.

1) If Evan wanted to stay injury free, then why would he not just knock the guy out? After all Steve Gatt aint in the same class as Evan and he did a nice enough job on him.

2)If however he did need the rounds (which he shouldn't). Then when he realised that he was in real danger of losing- (which i think he did) then why didn't he dig deep like the Evan of old and go back to the all or nothing approach. After all this is the attitude that has made me respect and admire the guy.

3) Why did he throw an ILLEGAL spinning back-fist if he was not totally frustrated with the way he was fighting? He got away with a point deduction here but if he becomes a main-event fighter he can't just conveniently forget the rules mid-way.

4) I spoke to Evan before the fight and he told me that he had not even though about Headhunter fight and his sole focus was on the Solomonidis fight. Now if he was gonna take it easy and keep something in reserve for the headhunter fight then he lied! and i think Evan has alot more respect for himself and the sport to be known as someone who shoots of **** at the mouth. The Evan that i have seen is the western suburbs gladiator that let's his skill do the talking.

I hope that Evan lifts for the headhunter fight and i hope he knocks him out to stop Tarik's crap talk about headhunter being the next big-thing. He won't be- he cannot be, cause he just aint good enough. You need more than what he has got, and you need to prove it against fighters that are a little better than the chumps he has been fighting. Let's just hope that Evan fights like the old courageous evan and leaves Jenk's spin kicks to Jenk! Evan people love you for what you do in the ring so keep the Evan base- the heart, the all or nothing approach, the hard hands and feet and punish this guy.

All the best and no-disrespect to Evan it's just an opinion, if you check previous posts you will see that both Evan and Ben Smullen are my all time faves.

Increase the Peace

Rickstar.

[paul c]

Rickstar, fair enough.....


But guys, don't forget that we are going to be seeing the K1 guys fight each other. This is usually a show on it's own.

[Mr. T]

Hate to say it but I disagree with most of you and agree with Micheal Shiavello. Themlakis vs Nandex in my mind will be a very entertaining affair!!! Both men have proven that they can pack a punch / kick, but that they both also have great skill in the sport we all love. It's going to be two fighters who have proven them selves as main event draw cards on every other Promotion in Victoria besides Tarik's, proving to the Victorian public that they are the next generation of fighters coming on to the scene. I reckon there will be little disputes about how much money that Nandex and Themlakis are getting paid because all they really want to do is fight and fight for the recognition of not just being a good fighter, but a great one. They want to climb the ranks in becoming fighters like Zambidi's, JWP and Dawson. As of now, Themlakis and Nandex don't want to fight soley for money which, seems to dictate many "upper class" and the usual main event fighters availibilities. Nandex and Themlakis in my mind fight to earn the acclaim they deserve as being great fighters and to proove to the public that they are the next generation of Tarik Solak main even draw cards.

[_MaRia_]

In reply to Ricksta who mentioned that STEVE GATT did a nice job against SOT SOLOMONIDIS..i just wanna say that Sot was not 100% in the fight..he had other issues on his mind and was not focusing completely on the fight. If Steve thinks that he can beat Sot than i say..BRING IT ON!!! i am a big fan of Sot's and i think that he is more than capable of beating Steve (like he did at Springvale). Hopefully next time (if there is a next time) Sot will be focused entirely on the fight and he can show you's all what he can do!!!

[paul c]

Reading this old thread has made me realize it's been a whole year since Evan broke his arm. Damn, the break put him out of the ring for a long time, but I'm a firm believer in letting broken bones heal properly. Especially after breaking, and then re-breaking a couple of knuckles late last year. Damn, my hand hurts more now that it's getting colder in the mornings than it did only a couple of weeks after I damaged it.


Looking forward to seeing Evan get back into it again. I remember watching his very early fights from a couple of years back. He seemed such a dangerous young fighter even with only 3 or 4 fights under his belt. It would be good to see him and Stanley re-match after maybe a warm up fight or two.

[John Cav]

I think Tarik has got it right. This is a fight that will put enough bums on seats to fill the Melbourne Town Hall. If their last fight was conclusive I dont think anyone would bother, but I sense both sides ans supporters are happy for a rematch.

Still kicking strong at 42!