Masato Interview
K-1 MAX's biggest star a two times K-1 MAX WGP Champion and former ISKA World Champion, Masato will be fighting his last bout on New Year's Eve at the Dynamite!! event at Saitama Super Arena. Masato talks about the true meaning of 'challenge'.
Not Mike Tyson.
-- Your final opponent will be Andy Souwer.
Masato: I’m pleased. I have a chance to get revenge.
-- Is it vengeance you want?
Masato: I have some unfinished business.
-- You don’t want to retire with unfinished business.
Masato: I have to beat Souwer. I’ve lost to him two times.
-- Must be hard.
Masato: It’s not that. It’s that he thinks he’s stronger than me, but once I get started, I’m totally stronger.
-- So is he worthy of your last match?
Masato: Completely.
--So you’re not worried that he’s beat you twice in tournaments.
Masato: Not at all.
-- So the odds are your favor?
Masato: Of course! Completely.
-- And you have a strategy.
Masato: Let’s just say that I’m doing what it takes to win. I said it before. I’m going to be Mike Tyson. That’s why I’m training so hard. But I stopped trying to be Mike Tyson.
-- What?
Masato: As of today, I decided I’m not Mike Tyson. I’m looking for a more beautiful image. So I quit Mike Tyson. I’m more beautiful than that.
The wind said, “Petrosyan”.
-- Your last show needs a beautiful finale?
Masato: A bit more, yes.
-- For example.
Masato: I was organizing my videos when I found a borrowed copy of “Titanic” which my friend wanted back. Then, I found a video of Ernesto Hoost, whom I’ve always looked up to and I decided, that’s what I’m aiming for.
-- So not Tyson, but Hoost?
Masato: That’s right. I happened to watch the Hoost vs. Andy Hug match, and Hoost had won. I’ll be just like Hoost, and Souwer will be like Hug. That’s the feeling that I got, that it’ll be just like that.
-- They are both Andys. By the way, after Petrosyan won, you challenged him. Were you caught up in the moment?
Masato: I know how the wind blows. Though I wanted to fight Souwer, the wind said, “Petrosyan”. You gotta go with the flow.
-- He is pretty strong. So for you he must be hard to ignore. But because of his injury, the fight was cancelled.
Masato: It was Destiny telling me to get my revenge on Souwer. Destiny. Or really good luck. I was given this chance. I mean, if I was Souwer, I wouldn’t take the fight. He has nothing to prove. He’s two for two. He wanted this fight, too. For no reason.
-- Did you think he might say no?
Masato: I would have said no. There’s no reason to fight.
-- He must have a lot of confidence.
Masato: He probably does. I sure do.
-- Beating him is a big motivator.
Masato: Yes.
-- And it being your last fight?
Masato: Not really. It’s a challenge. An easy fight at the end of a career might be nice, but then I wouldn’t choose Souwer. It was me who challenged him. I won’t feel like I miss fighting until after I quit. This is the hardest I’ve ever trained.
-- You don’t seem like someone who’s retiring.
Masato: I mentioned this at the press conference where I announced my retirement - I’m quitting when I’m at my strongest. I’m fulfilling that promise.
The best years of my life.
-- Looks like you’ve done what you’ve set out to do.
Masato: I agree.
-- Why did you continue to challenge yourself up until the end?
Masato: I never stop challenging. It’s been a fighting life. When I was a kickboxer I was challenging the K-1 heavyweights because I knew I could have more ntense fights. Then I accomplished that in MAX where I then took the challenge to become Japanese champion and then World Champion. I lost to Krause and then fought him again… And became champion. I kept winning and kept challenging until now. This next fight is my last challenge.
-- You have two world titles and you keep challenging.
Masato: Those are in the past already.
-- Does a champion have to stay a challenger?
Masato: If I don’t, I’m done with. Even retiring is a challenge. In fact the bigger challenge might be then. Because I don’t know exactly what I’ll do yet. But I’ll continue to challenge until I die.
-- And that’s why the Souwer match.
Masato: It’s unfinished business. There will be no regrets. If I didn’t do it, I might regret it years later.
-- What is K-1 to you?
Masato: K-1 is my… youth?
-- How long did that last?
Masato: I started kickboxing at 18 and have been fighting for 12 years. My youth spent in fighting is what I’d like to call it when I’m older.
-- Is it bittersweet?
Masato: It’s not bitter or sour at all? It’s my youth.
-- And love?
Masato: Love is youth, too.
-- But it was also a job.
Masato: There was a lot of pressure, but it’s not like I was only fighting for others. I was fighting for myself, too.
Thinking ten years ahead
-- All for yourself?
Masato: Well you can only do so much for others. In the end, it’s for yourself.
-- What did you want to accomplish in K-1?
Masato: I wanted to become champion. To become number one. I wanted to be world champion. That’s something I wanted since I was a teenager.
-- What will be left behind?
Masato: My records and my self satisfaction. I’m sure people who don’t know about fighting won’t give a damn. That’s okay. I’m pleased with myself. That’s what really counts.
-- Did you talk about your opponent with your family?
Masato: They agreed that it was destiny. A really lucky break, they said.
-- They weren’t against it?
Masato: Not a bit. Not at all.
-- How does your wife help you.
Masato: Like any would.
-- So now you’re putting the finishing touches on your training. Does it get harder from here?
Masato: But it was harder when I was younger.
-- What is it like looking back?
Masato: It was tough back then. I was so scared that I just trained as hard as I could. I overworked my body and wore myself out. Now I know better. When I’m tired, I rest and don’t practice. That’s for the best. It’s not good to overpractice.
-- There has to be some contrast.
Masato: I’m 30 now, so I’m not like when I was in my 20’s. I now exactly what to do now.
-- But you’re only 30.
Masato: It’s the best age for an athlete. Skill-wise.
-- Are you 30 mentally?
Masato: Mentally, I’m 40. I was always told to think 10 years ahead.
-- How’s your condition?
Masato: I get tired. I pushed myself up until a month before the fight.
-- You mentioned before that you know what you have to do to be ready.
Masato: I can’t really say that. I only know that I’m going to be at full power for 5 rounds. I’m making sure I don’t rush too hard and get too tired in the first round. Of course I’m planning to destroy my opponent.
“Once you lose your drive, you’re done with”
-- Looks like you guys will trade blow-for-blow.
Masato: I know we will. It will be blow-for-blow, but I’m not the same guy I was before. My power and stamina is much greater now.
-- Do you want to go all five rounds?
Masato: If I can.
-- Won’t that be hard?
Masato: The strategy is different for a 5-round fight. He must be thinking the same thing.
-- How is that kind of strategy built?
Masato: Well, I can’t give you details, but it’s how you bring your opponent to defeat over five rounds.
-- There is some give and take.
Masato: ...
-- The $1000 Masato fan seats sold out immediately. Do you feal the fan’s love?
Masato: I’m very happy. What should I do if they make me the opening fight?
-- What has been your biggest motivation to fight so far?
Masato: It’s never changed. It’s ambition. It’s always been ambition. I’ve always wanted to be where I am now.
-- Do you still have a dream?
Masato: I do. Once I stop dreaming, I’m finished.
-- But you have so much already.
Masato: No, no. You’ve got to keep going, and you can’t allow yourself to get too satisfied. That’s why I’m a challenger.
-- Is there somthing you want to get across to the fans?
Masato: I’m not thinking about that right now.
-- Something you want them to feel?
Masato: I can’t think about that right now. I can only think of myself right now.
-- A message for the fans.
Masato: If you want to have the best New Year’s Eve, why don’t you come and see me fight. There are a lot of fights, but I’ll give you the best possible ending. And ending that anyone can be happy with. You won’t be disappointed. I won’t let you.
Interview by Stuart Tonkin
Photos courtesy of FEG
28 December 2009
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