Dubai // It started explosively, and never relented.
Kickboxing’s Glory 20 came to Dubai on Friday night, and fighters, having talked the talk in the days leading up to the event, did not let anyone down inside the ring.
It took Anatoliy Moiseev of Russia only 38 seconds to knock out Germany’s Max Baumert with a spectacular kick to the head.
The second fight proved a far more tactical affair. Turkey’s Atakan Arslan went punch for punch and kick for kick with Chad Sugden. The decision from the judges was unanimous, however, and the man from the UK emerged deservedly victorious.
“I was too slick for him,” Sugden said.
The high tempo returned for the next bout. Morocco’s Samir Boukhidous was in stunning form and dominated Mikhail Chalykh inside two minutes. The Russian beat the count after his first knockdown, but not his second.
“I’ve dreamed every day about this,” Boukhidous said. “The dream came true.”
The fourth fight of the evening proved even more brutal. Britain’s Chi Lewis-Parry took a mere 25 seconds to dismiss Park Yong-su, a barrage of punches ending with a left hook that left the South Korean dazed as he left the ring.
“I respect him, but I have hammers like Thor,” Lewis-Parry said.
Mourad Bouzidi won hearts by emerging with traditional Arab headgear and a quick prayer before entering the ring. Dustin Jacoby went the distance, but all three judges judged 30-27 in favour of the light heavyweight Tunisian.
“I’m happy to have an Arab audience watch me here,” Bouzidi said. “I love you.”
The sixth and last of the Glory Superfight Series was a split decision for Saulo Cavalari of Brazil over Artem Vakhitov of Russia at light heavyweight.
In the first of the Middleweight Tournament semi-finals, Simon Marcus of Canada, with an impressive record of 40-2-1, edged American Wayne Barrett in a unanimous decision.
In the final, Marcus met Dutchman Jason Wilnis, who won the other semi-final with another unanimous decision against Alex Pereira of Brazil.
Next up was the featherweight title fight, Mosab Amrani of Morocco vs Gabriel Varga of Canada. It went the full, energy-sapping four rounds, and there was disappointment for crowd favourite Amrani with yet another Canadian victory.
The Middleweight Tournament final went to the determined Marcus, who defeated Wilnis on points. He now has his sights set on winning Artem Levin’s belt.
The final and most anticipated fight of the night had another Dutchman, Robin van Roosmalen, defeat Andy Ristie of Surinam after five rounds in which he largely dominated.
There was disappointment for the local fans as Emirati Eisa Al Dah’s special attraction boxing bout against Cesar Soriano of Mexico had to be cancelled, but few would complain about the quality of kickboxing delivered throughout the evening.
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