K-1 Champions win ISKA World titles on KRUSH 16 in Tokyo
K-1 MAX Japan Champions Yuta Kobu and Yoshihiro Sato thrilled a packed house at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan on the 17th February as they battled top European opposition for ISKA World Championship belts. The main event featured K-1 MAX 63kg tournament Champion Yuta Kubo and he proved in devastating fashion that he is one of the strongest lightweight fighters in the world.
Kubo moved up a weight division to challenge for the vacant ISKA World Light-welterweight title against Muaythai World Champion Charles Francois of France. The Frenchman had a substantial height and reach advantage, but Kubo negates that with his southpaw stance in the opening both men are ready to trade kicks and punches, Kubo lands a head kick and scores a flash knockdown, then Francois connects with a heavy straight right hand whipping Kobu’s head back. Francois switched to a southpaw stance for the second round but it didn’t work out for him, in an exchange of punches Kubo sunk a left hook into Francois body, more body punches followed and the Frenchman was on the ropes, Kobu fired left and right body punches and Francois crumbled and fell to the canvas unable to beat the count a KO victory for the new ISKA World Light-welterweight Champion Yuta Kobu.
Austria’s standout middleweight ISKA World Champion Fadi Merza put his Light-middleweight title on the line against K-1 MAX Middleweight Japan tournament Champion Yoshihiro Sato. From the first bell Sato used solid technique to out manoeuvre Merza, mixing front kicks and leg kicks with a ramrod jab it was a master class in keeping your opponent off balance and under fire. Merza had his moments when he opened up with power punches but Sato would just slip out of range. Sato was always one step ahead and racked up the points to win a clear unanimous decision and the ISKA World Championship Light-middleweight belt. Sato said he would be ready to defend the belt against all comers but would most like to defend it against two time K-1 MAX WGP Champion Giorgio Petrosian.
KRUSH 16 including the ISKA World title fights was broadcast by Japanese cable TV channel Gaora Sports.
18 February 2012
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