Ron Sefo ripped off?

[matman]

Does anyone else think that Ron has got a raw deal in being left off the card for the K-1 Oceania? After losing a close fought semi against Jason Suttie (awesome fight!)promoter Tarik Solak publicly stated on NZ TV that Ron would would be then next in line for any vacant spaces after the qualifiers. Tarik also told both him and Andrew Peck in person that they would be in the Oceania if they won their next fights. Ron had a convincing win in the K-1 NZ vs Croatia and yet the final spot has been given to the guy who knocked Andrew out (Josip Brodrovic). Now Josip is a nice guy and definately has size and power but he hasn't had that many pro fights and his fight with Andrew was so short that it is impossible to tell what kind of skills/durability he has. It is hard to see what he has done to deserve selection. Ron actually turned down a k-1 fight in Japan because he had been promised a spot on the oceania card and had met his part of the deal.

It's hard to understand Solak's thinking. The only reason I can think of is that he didn't want 4 New Zealanders on the card again, especially with Adam Watt not competing. No offence to our Aussie brothers but, although your middleweights are the real deal, apart from Adam who among the Oz heavy weights is really world class? Jason Suttie and Doug Viney have to be the favourites going in and having Ron on the bill would have just increased the chances of a Kiwi winning it! Am I just being paranoid or does something smell rotten?! Anyway, if nothing else, Tarik has broken his word and shafted a fighter who has paid his dues and deserves a break!



Edited by - matman on 10 May 2003 07:45:01

[ShinSlinger]

This is nothing new, promoters are full of empty promises to fighters...and that is why so many talents just disappear....they need to eat just like the promoters do, but when they keep getting bent over by the promoters they just disappear and go back to or enter into more stable careers.

ShinSlinger

[paul c]

Doesn't he usually have two guys representing N.Z.


If that's the case, do you think Ron has more right to be there than Suttie or Viney?

His last couple of performances in the K1 Oceania haven't been really spectacular.

[Adam Houlahan]

Hi guys.
I'd like to see Paul Slowinski in the K1. I dont know where but I heard a rumour this might eventuate. Maybe I read it in IK or something. Anyhow I believe he'd be a wicked representative for Australia, even though I haven't seen his recent fights. His fights I have seen have been tough and shown a wicked Muay Thai technique, Big Kick, Big Knee combos. Does anyone know anything about this.
Aggressor

[paul c]

Adam,

He is in the K1 Oceania.

He qualified after defeating Clay Aumatagi on tarik's last show.

So he's going to be in this years Oceania final.

[matman]

Suttie and Viney deserve to be there because of their placing in the K1 NZ. Remember that the Kiwis have to come through an 8 man tournament to get in whereas the Aussies only have to come through a 4 man or, more often a single fight - is that fair? (An issue for another discussion, I guess) Anyway, my point was more that Ron deserves to be there more than Josip Brodrovic. Tarik made a promise and I think he should have kept it. I agree that Ron's previous Oceania performance hasn't set the world on fire but I think Tarik's statement was based on his recent form which has been impressive in both the K1 NZ and the NZ vs Croatia. Josip fought in the Croatia qualifier so why is he fighting in the Oceania? He has only had one fight in Oceania which lasted for about a minute and on that basis he has been given a spot? Ron was told that if he won his next fight he was in. He did what he was told and Tarik reneged. Just seems shady to me!

[paul c]

I see your point.

It is kind of weird, because we don't have a K1 Australia I guess. Instead we have K1 NSW, Vic and QLD. There isn't enough guys to have 8 in each tourny I don't think. Having it in only the one state would be kinda pointless, because what would be the outcome............6 of the 8 qualifiers making it into the Oceania. So I guess it does make sense to have the state 4 mans, unless they also used Kiwi guys to make up the numbers in the State tourneys.
But I take your points about the promise, and about kiwi fighters have a tougher qualifying test.