The rumour mill is a’swirlin’… and while K-1 itself was a verifiable Champagne Supernova of fightsports, the later years and the reincarnation of K-1, “Rising”, has been enveloped in both optimism and cynicism, promise and controversy.
Following the revelations this week from Simon Rutz and It’s Showtime that K-1 Rising had not lived up to their side of the bargain with regards to co-promoted European shows, the Amsterdam “giants” of kickboxing shockingly sold up to Glory World Series, effectively giving Golden Glory Gym all the major pieces on the chessboard and leaving all others armed with only knights and pawns. This put the future of K-1 Rising in doubt, as much of their existing and new talent alike was contracted to It’s Showtime, which is now under the Glory umbrella.
Well, K-1 Global are looking to respond, and the persistent rumours being floated around forums and twitter (though not from K-1 Global’s twitter, which has remained ominously quiet) is that K-1 are in fact far from done, and that along with signing the likes of ISKA and WMC (Muay Thai Against Drugs) world champion thai-boxer Andy Howson, that they retain the right to host certain elite talent with which they plan to host a Grand Prix tournament in 2012.
Well… make up your own mind. Here are some of the names mentioned:
Badr Hari
Mirko CroCop
Tyrone Spong
Kyotaro
Ruslan Kareav
Mighty Mo
Gerard Mousasi
“Japanese fighter”
Well… let’s wait and see what transpires. All I can say is, my optimism is somewhat ebbing…
Not to denigrate former Dream (MMA) middleweight champ Mousasi, big Mo, post-UFC losing streak CroCop, 13-9 win/loss Ruslan Karaev or the mighty “Japanese Fighter”, of course…
Furthermore, apparently there is a “high possibility” that the planned USA events will be cancelled, namely in New York City and Los Angeles. Well, on that rumour at least I think we can all suspend our doubts and cynicism…
Twitter @ Daniel Fletcher
