East Side Boxing Forum - Manhoef vs Sokodjou

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Visa Issues Will Keep Cameroon Sensation Out Of Manhoef/Overeem Match Monday at K-1 HERO’S

By Loretta Hunt ([Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...])

The Japanese have elevated last-minute fight card revelations to an art form, and if Fight Entertainment Group, promoters of K-1 HERO’S, had pulled this one off they wouldn’t have been accused of lagging.

With two openings left to complete its card and time ticking away, K-1 tried to secure the services of one of the sport’s most instantaneous stars in PRIDE light heavyweight phenomenon Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou for Monday’s Olympia HERO’S event at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan. The 2001 US Open Judo Championships winner would have faced either of two accomplished Dutch strikers still without opponent on the roster - Melvin Manhoef or Alistair Overeem.

Sokoudjou, who had been reported to have verbally agreed to a deal with Pro Elite two weeks ago, was set to leave Dan Henderson’s Murrieta, Calif. Team Quest gym on Thursday for another whirlwind trip around the world. However, a proper visa could not be acquired in time, said Henderson. Sokoudjou is still slated to travel to Japan this weekend to discuss a multi-fight contract with the K-1 organization.

Few fighters have stirred fans up into as much frenzy in such a short time as Sokoudjou has. An unknown in February’s PRIDE 33 “The Second Coming” in Las Vegas, the 1500-1 underdog knocked out Olympic boxing hopeful Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-3) in 23 seconds. The muscular, dreadlocked fighter topped that performance less than two months later at April 8’s PRIDE 34 “Kamikaze,” sending Brazilian Top Team’s Ricardo Arona (13-5) into unconsciousness in a minute and 59 seconds in the last event held under Dream Stage Entertainment’s banner.

Damn this fight was nearly on!
I would love to see that fight......both of them are fucking monsters with brutal knockout power.
I would predict a great slugfest war.