Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:49

I know that everyone is concerned about the return of K-1, but for the time being I find it fruitless to discuss what is going on with FEG. We all know that FEG plans to undertake a restructuring and return within the year, if this happens or not no one really knows. There are talks of dates, times, venues and also that the Japanese earthquake and tsunami pushed things back. The optimist says that is what happened, the pessimist says that is a rather remarkable excuse and a great way to make things look like they are moving along. We at this point have no opinion on this matter, as we all want K-1 back, but will just have to wait.

In the mean time there are great things happening around the world in kickboxing that aren't related to FEG or K-1. There is It's Showtime putting on a million shows and really stepping up to the plate in a unique way, then there is the Glory World Series put on by Martijn de Jong and Golden Glory, then of course there is Fight Code. Fight Code has come out of the gates swinging in 2011 and impressed everyone who has seen their first few shows this year. Just to illustrate that there is a lot going on in the kickboxing world, here is a calendar of their upcoming events. The "Dragon" events are for their tournament featuring K-1 World MAX Champion Giorgio Petrosyan, his brother Armen Petrosyan, Sudsakorn and Dzhabar Askerov. Check here for the full break down of the tournament.

Then there is the "Rhino" series, which take place either on alternate dates or at least alternate locations, it is a -105kg (Heavyweight) tournament, and while all the names have yet to be finalized, there are dates planned and of course fighters vying to get involved in this tournament.

Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:49

There was a pretty decent discussion about kickboxing this morning on Twitter between Bloodstain Lane, Michael Schiavello, myself and a few fans about kickboxing. There were those that argued kickboxing was dead in the United States and had no talent and then a lot of talk about who were the big stars of the past 20 years, who is coming up and how the regional muay thai scenes are still going very strong. There are some promotions that do great work on the West coast and East coast as well as some strong upstarts in Las Vegas like Lion Fights.

We already know that Mark Miller is going to be representing America in Russia at the Glory World Series event in May and there are talks of a possible kickboxing tournament in May in the United States featuring some former heavyweight K-1 stars from the United States. Call me foolish, but I'm optimistic. So, apparently, are the guys who work at Mike's Gym in the Netherlands. So much so that Danny Delvers at Mike's Gym trains kids and I must say, some of the stuff they are doing is far beyond what a lot of MMA fighters pull off on UFC cards. That isn't an insult as much as it is praise for what youth programs can develop. [source]

Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:49

April is shaping up to be a rather uneventful month for the world of kickboxing after a jam-packed March return for many of the bigger promotions in Europe. We saw the GLORY World Series continue, It's Showtime put on two big cards and Fight Code gave us the gift of Giorgio Petrosyan and a few other big fights. Understandably, Japan has been rather quiet the past month or so. Japan was actually hit by another earthquake today, a 7.4 and is once again on tsunami watch. Needless to say, inactivity in Japan is not a big deal. A few promotions are stepping up and running shows for Japan, to show the strength of the nation as well as to do their best to help out. Thankfully for us, Shootboxing is one of those promotions. Here is their poster. [source]

Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:49

Muay Thai prospect Cyrus Washington is set to square off against former It's Showtime fighter and champion Cosmo Alexandre next month for Lion Fight Promotions. The two will clash at 160lbs on May 14th, the following is from Lion Fights' press release.

Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:49

We've been preaching this for a while now; that kickboxing is one of the greatest sports in the world and that it needs a bigger following in the United States. No, it deserves a bigger following in the United States. Any sport as exciting as kickboxing deserves a wider audience and the fighters, promoters and sponsors who work hard all do so for a reason; passion. That is all that you can ask for, and that is what kickboxing delivers.

Our good friend Bloodstain Lane agrees and his latest video is just that; he urges everyone to support the kickboxing world and talks about the upcoming return of Mark Miller as well.