This is probably the most anticipated bout in this year's FieLDS K-1 World GP Final. Last year's GP champ, Remy Bonjasky is going against Errol Zimmerman for a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is arguably the best known and most loved K-1 fighter in the history of the organization. The man who has defied the laws of gravity and brought us awe inducing highlight reels is back this year to once again capture the K-1 belt.
Remy Bonjasky was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, on January 10th, 1976. His family and him moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, when he was 5. As a child and young teen, Bonjasky fell in love with soccer and wanted to pursue a career in the sport. However, after he broke his left leg when he was 16, he decided to quit soccer. Two years later, a friend introduced him to kickboxing, he got hooked on it and 6 months after joining the gym, he was ready for his first match. His first opponent was none other than Valentjin Overeem, Alistair Overeem's older brother. Remy proceeded to KO him in the 2nd round with what would become his signature move, flying knees.
The Flying Gentleman then proceeded to further tune his skills to become a respected Muay Thai fighter. However, working as a network operator in a big internet company gave him scheduling trouble in his fighting career and he came to a point where he had to choose between the two. Luckily, a friend of his offered to sponsor him would he choose the K-1 path. He has also worked as a banker for ABN Amro.
Bonjasky first fought in K-1 in 2001. At 6'4 and 240 lbs, he entered the HW division. He lost his first match, but 2 years later, captured his first GP championship belt. Throughout his 73-14-0 (40 of those victories were by KO and 3 KO losses) record, he defeated fighters such as Melvin Manhoef, Bob Sapp, Cyril Abidi by a famous flying knee strike, Musashi twice, Mighty Mo, Badr Hari twice, Gary Goodridge, Gokhan Saki, Hong Man Choi and Jerome LeBanner, among other. He was defeated by Peter Aerts in a unanimous decision, Jerome LeBanner in a split decision, Semmy Schilt by a decision and later a KO and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic by a TKO, among others. He captured the K-1 World GP championship belt three times up until now (in 2003, 2004 and 2008).
In 2007, he helped Dutch police capture 2 British criminals that were shooting darts at passers-by with a rifle. Bonjasky was their last victim, as he pursued the criminals in a cab after being shot with the dart and called the police who were then able to capture the crooks. Bonjasky received a medal for his courageous and honorable act.
Errol Zimmerman
Errol Zimmerman was born April 20th, 1986, in Paramaribo, Suriname, but like Bonjasky, he now lives in the Netherlands. He is a Muay Thai fighter and trains with Golden Glory, along with Alistair Overeem. He stands 6'3 and weighs 240lbs. Zimmerman has a very impressive record for his age, 67-11-1. 32 of those wins are by way of KO and only 3 of his losses are by KO.
Zimmerman's K-1 debut was in 2005. Besides for his controversial decision victory over Teixeira, another mentionable win is over Glaube Feitosa, by decision as well.
Excuse my Bonjasky nuthuggery, but I think he will take a decision and proceed to the semis, unless he gets KO'd, which I believe he will not. Zimmerman has a great future ahead of him, but I don't think he's experienced enough to take on the likes of The Flying Gentleman. Nevertheless, I am REALLY looking forward to this fight.
What do you think?
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is arguably the best known and most loved K-1 fighter in the history of the organization. The man who has defied the laws of gravity and brought us awe inducing highlight reels is back this year to once again capture the K-1 belt.
Remy Bonjasky was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, on January 10th, 1976. His family and him moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, when he was 5. As a child and young teen, Bonjasky fell in love with soccer and wanted to pursue a career in the sport. However, after he broke his left leg when he was 16, he decided to quit soccer. Two years later, a friend introduced him to kickboxing, he got hooked on it and 6 months after joining the gym, he was ready for his first match. His first opponent was none other than Valentjin Overeem, Alistair Overeem's older brother. Remy proceeded to KO him in the 2nd round with what would become his signature move, flying knees.
The Flying Gentleman then proceeded to further tune his skills to become a respected Muay Thai fighter. However, working as a network operator in a big internet company gave him scheduling trouble in his fighting career and he came to a point where he had to choose between the two. Luckily, a friend of his offered to sponsor him would he choose the K-1 path. He has also worked as a banker for ABN Amro.
Bonjasky first fought in K-1 in 2001. At 6'4 and 240 lbs, he entered the HW division. He lost his first match, but 2 years later, captured his first GP championship belt. Throughout his 73-14-0 (40 of those victories were by KO and 3 KO losses) record, he defeated fighters such as Melvin Manhoef, Bob Sapp, Cyril Abidi by a famous flying knee strike, Musashi twice, Mighty Mo, Badr Hari twice, Gary Goodridge, Gokhan Saki, Hong Man Choi and Jerome LeBanner, among other. He was defeated by Peter Aerts in a unanimous decision, Jerome LeBanner in a split decision, Semmy Schilt by a decision and later a KO and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic by a TKO, among others. He captured the K-1 World GP championship belt three times up until now (in 2003, 2004 and 2008).
In 2007, he helped Dutch police capture 2 British criminals that were shooting darts at passers-by with a rifle. Bonjasky was their last victim, as he pursued the criminals in a cab after being shot with the dart and called the police who were then able to capture the crooks. Bonjasky received a medal for his courageous and honorable act.
Errol Zimmerman
Errol Zimmerman was born April 20th, 1986, in Paramaribo, Suriname, but like Bonjasky, he now lives in the Netherlands. He is a Muay Thai fighter and trains with Golden Glory, along with Alistair Overeem. He stands 6'3 and weighs 240lbs. Zimmerman has a very impressive record for his age, 67-11-1. 32 of those wins are by way of KO and only 3 of his losses are by KO.
Zimmerman's K-1 debut was in 2005. Besides for his controversial decision victory over Teixeira, another mentionable win is over Glaube Feitosa, by decision as well.
Excuse my Bonjasky nuthuggery, but I think he will take a decision and proceed to the semis, unless he gets KO'd, which I believe he will not. Zimmerman has a great future ahead of him, but I don't think he's experienced enough to take on the likes of The Flying Gentleman. Nevertheless, I am REALLY looking forward to this fight.
What do you think?