Shootboxing S-Cup 2012: Andy Souwer, Joachim Hansen Among Participants

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 September 2012 23:02 Sunday, 30 September 2012 22:15

Written by Rian Scalia

Shootboxing's S-Cup event takes place every two years, with the winners of it also legendary kickboxers in Buakaw Por. Pramuk and Andy Souwer. The S-Cup is back this year on November 17 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan and a press conference was held there recently to announce the events and some of the participants.

This year's S-Cup tournament participants will be:

Andy Souwer

Joachim Hansen

Hiroki Shishido

Hiroaki Suzuki

Bovy Sor Udomson

Warren Stevelmans

Winner of Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Henri van Opstal

TBA

Among participants in this year's S-Cup, Joachim Hansen, Hiroki Shishido and Hiroaki Suzuki were all on hand at the press conference. The most surprising addition to many was Joachim Hansen, a long time MMA fighter in its respective lightweight division for the majority of his career, having fought and been one of the best lightweights in the world. Hansen fought for Shooto, PRIDE and DREAM in his career in MMA, taking on the likes of Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri. He hasn't fought at all this year, so his participation in this year's S-Cup will be his first fight(s) of the year.

Andy Souwer and Hiroki Shishido come as no surprise, as they're long time Shootboxing participants. Shishido actually qualified for the S-Cup by knocking out Satoru Suzuki with a spinning backfist on September 17 at Shootboxing 2012 Act.4. Two other fighters who qualified for this year's S-Cup at that event are Bovy Sor Udomson and Warren Stevelmans, with wins over Akihiro Gono and Hinata respectively. Hiroaki Suzuki, although being a long time veteran of Shootboxing is much lighter and usually fights between 62.5kg-65kg and is the Shootboxing Super Lightweight Champion, although he did beat fellow participant Hiroki Shishido earlier this year, albeit the fight was at 65kg.

The winner of Henri van Opstal against Yuichiro Nagashima at REBELS on October 28 in Japan will qualify, as well as a to be announced participant.

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