Could be more than we might think...a RBR thread for a solid card might get them crawling outta the woodwork. :good
Not the GOAT like some believe(d), although he is definitely a top p4p h2h ATG. Two-thirds of his career losses (including all of his prime losses) were to clear-cut all-time-greats in Kraus, Souwer, and Buakaw - and he also posted a win over all three of them. (in the case of Kraus, two wins and one draw) He is among the smoothest practitioners ever of the Muay Thai style under K-1 (or non-MT in general) rules. His defense, his feints, his fluidity, his footwork, and his vicious leg kicks are legendary.
Yeah. His boxing coach was actually very successful in the 90's, going 3-2-1 in WBA 115lb title bouts including a victory over Hiroki Ioka (uncle of Kazuto and 2-division champ)
I was unaware of that! Thanks for the info. :good Did Masato and Petrosyan ever get it on? If they never, who do you think would have won on their best day?
Real shame Iida never coached too many actual pro boxers. :think He worked for a bit with Kazumi Izaki (4x unsuccessful Japanese women's flyweight title challenger) but that might've been it. :conf
Oh man!! Dream match there. Unfortunately, no, they never did - but they were supposed to on New Year's Eve 2009. Petrosyan had a hand injury and in stepped Andy Souwer - allowing Masato to finally best his nemesis, and in his retirement match, so even though we got deprived of Masato vs. Petrosyan things still kind of worked out with a storybook ending. It would've been two completely different styles (even though both were Muay Thai crossovers who integrated facets of the disparate MT/European/Oriental disciplines of kickboxing, and were both highly technical and sharp) and really fascinating to see the battle of will imposition and to whom the momentum swung as it wore on.
Ooooh! Damn shame it never happened then! Was there any rivalry/needle between them or not? Would you say that was to KB, what Manny/Floyd is to Boxing? And how do you rate Petro today? Still in his prime or past it?
