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Its Showtime Amsterdam Press Conference
Pressconference May 28, 2010
The Its Showtime pressconference
STARES were exchanged, smack was talked and big annnouncements were made as fighters, fans and media
gathered today at the Claus Event Center in Hoofddorp for a lively press conference 24 hours ahead of the biggest kickbox
event in the world, ITS SHOWTIME at the Amsterdam ArenA in the Netherlands.
Tomorrows spectacular event will be the eighth year in succession that ITS SHOWTIME has taken place at the home
 of Ajax football club and features a best-ever line-up of 16 elite matches.
And as the anticipation reaches fever pitch, promoters European Fighting Network took the opportunity to crank it up further by announcing three more huge shows that are set to rock the kickboxing world in 2011.
First up is a mouthwatering 16-man heavyweight elimination tournament at Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam on March 5,
 featuring the likes of tomorrows headline act Badr Hari, Errol Zimmerman, Alexey Ignashov and Paul Slowinski.
The eight-man final will then take place at the Amsterdam ArenA next May, followed by a 16-man Fast and Furious 
70kg MAX tournament at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on December 10, 2011.
Fighters of the calibre of reigning K-1 Max champion Giorgio Petrosyan, Andy Souwer, Nieky Holzken and Pajonsuk
will all be battling it out for a 100,000 euro jackpot.
That is then, this is now though and tomorrow's participants are all raring to go for what will be another epic fight
sport occasion in the Dutch capital.
Knockout artist Badr Haris popularity has gone supernova in the last couple of years, and the most exciting stand-up fighter
in the world declared he will be going for a trademark early finish when he defends his ITS SHOWTIME heavyweight title for the
 second time against Hesdy Gerges.
His face a picture of focus, Hari raced down the stairs to the front of the stage for his photo shoot with Gerges, initiating a tense and
seemingly endless staredown which forced promoter Simon Rutz to act as peacemaker and separate the two.
Overwhelming favourite Hari was not exactly on top motormouth form, mostly showing respect for his opponent, but he did mock
 Gerges credentials at one point.
"I was fighting when he was still learning how to tie his shoelaces," he sneered.
Asked his prediction for the fight, Hari - who said he rates himself as being in the top three heavyweights in the world - put it simply: "I heard 
it is going to be stormy tomorrow."
Underdog Gerges, who is trained by Hari's former mentor Thom Harinck, was unfazed and delivered a short, sharp counter that drew an
appreciative chuckle and loud round of applause and whistles from the crowd.
"After tomorrow, I will also be in the top three," boomed the Egyptian-Dutchman.
Haris explosive stablemate Melvin Manhoef was also at his bulging-eyed best as he slapped another intense staredown on
 Gokhan Saki, who he will tangle with in a chief supporting contest which most expect will end with a knockout.
After what seemed like an eternity and with neither man flinching an inch, it was the turn of Tyrone Spong - originally down to face Manhoef tomorrow but
out with a hand injury - to step in and split them up.
Leg slinger Saki vowed to meet fire with fire and said: "I think it will be a good fight and a hard fight.
"I train with 70 kilo fighters and I am also explosive myself."
Manhoef conveyed supreme confidence in a few words: "It's going to be a hard fight, I'm hungry for it and I'm
going to give it my all."
Middleweight muay thai legend Rayen Simson has his retirement fight on tomorrows card and said his intention is
 to go out with a bang against the always dangerous Sahin Kaas Yakut.
"Kaas is a good fighter but of course I am hoping for a win," smiled a relaxed Simson.
Yakut wants to spoil Simson's party however and replied: "It is a great honour to fight Rayen Simson because he
is a legend, but I also want to win."
Dressed in a smart suit and tie and wearing a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses, Yoshihiro Sato looked more
like a preppy stockbroker than a fighter as he took to the stage.
But the towering Japanese warrior said he will be strictly business when he tackles Thai powerhouse Pajonsuk
in their middlewight clash.
"Pajonsuk is a good fighter who has beaten people like Joerie Mes, but I will come to win and fight aggressively,"
he said.
Pajonsuk was equally confident but kept his cards closer to his chest and said: "I'm going to win but my plan is in my head."
Tomorrow's card also includes the IT'S SHOWTIME 65kg clash between champion Orono Wor Petchpun and challenger
Atty Gol and the heavyweight collision pitting low kick demon Daniel Ghita against entertaining veteran

Ashwin Balrak.
Sparks are also set to fly in a series of middleweight battles, including ITS SHOWTIME 70kg MAX champion
 Murat Direkci against Ukrainian body snatcher Artur Kyshenko and fans' favourite Gago Drago taking on his come-forward
kindred spirit, Leroy Kaestner.
A crowd in excess of 20,000 is expected at the Amsterdam ArenA for tomorrows ITS SHOWTIME event, with just 400
 tickets left on sale.
And fans around the world who don't have a ticket can also enjoy a ringside seat.
For the first time in history, ITS SHOWTIME is being stream lived to PCs and laptops, with seven fights available
for the bargain price of 10 euros.
Article from http://www.itsshowtime.nl/fight/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=186&Itemid=115
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