Golden Glory Rules K-1 Amsterdam
Amsterdam Holland Arena 23 April 2008
This must have been the craziest two weeks of my life! Semmy beat Marc Hunt with a spinning back kick (April 13th in Japan). Winning three awards at the 2008 Beverly hills film festival was unbelievable (The same day in LA April 13th) Semmy lands a role in a movie with Jason Statham (Transporter 3)
But what happened in Amsterdam at the K-1 GP put tears in my eyes and I have not cried of joy for a very long time!
The trip started in LA on April 9th, where I witnessed the opening of the movie Bad Guys (I produced the movie together with long time friend and business partner Frederico Lapenda) We walked the red carpet with stars like Danny de Vito and Erick Roberts.
The results of the 2008 Film Festival was on April 13th. The day after the opening I was flying from L.A to Tokyo, Japan as Semmy was fighting Mark Hunt. Semmy won by spectacular KO and at the same time I received the message that the movie Bad Guys won three awards! After that I took a plane to Thailand for another movie project I have been working on. April 26th was the date for the K-1 GP in Amsterdam and all flights were over booked from Thailand to Holland. My fiancé and I ended up flying from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and then to Amsterdam.
We arrived one day before the Amsterdam GP and with two hour sleep in three days We made our way to the Arena next day.
The start for Golden Glory was the tournament fight with Errol Zimmerman fighting Attila Karacs Hungary.
Zimmerman who has the nick name “Bonecrusher” is known for his wild and unpredictable fighting style. He is the youngest (just turned 22) at the stable of Golden Glory super fighters. Three weeks before this tournament he beat Rene Rooze by TKO ( Errol blocked a kick which resulted in Rooze’s injured shin bone). Errol showed great progress in listening to corner man master trainer Cor Hemmers.
That the TKO win over Rooze was no coincidence proved Errol by again putting up a well timed block which resulted in a huge gash on the shin bone of his opponent in the first fight of the Amsterdam GP tournament.
Winner by TKO in round one Errol Zimmerman and advancing to the half finals.
Errol Zimmerman had a history with Breggy as they were supposed to fight three weeks before , but Breggy cancelled the fight just three days before the fight. There were a lot of rumours that Breggy was not sick and wanted to spare himself to get KO’d before the important Amsterdam qualification tournament. Errol made a song about this and those lyrics were pretty clear on how he felt about Breggy. This was hyped on the internet and it promised to be a war.
That’s exactly what happened, in the first round we can see a calm Errol Zimmerman ( great work from his coaches) looking for an opening - Breggy tries to push the fight with some hard knees and punches.
In the second round the thrill that everybody was waiting for came to a reality when Errol Zimmerman unleashed a crazy jumping knee and a flurry of punches which caused Breggy to go down and he received an 8 count.
The public is on their feet and the atmosphere is electric. The final round, a wise fighter would just fight it out and win the fight on points but not Errol Zimmerman. Trying to go for the KO, Errol knocks down Breggy again after a flurry of punches. But then Breggy makes a spinning back fist and Errol goes down the audience can not sit on their seats anymore. Zimmerman’s got a big swollen eye now, but Errol gets up by the end of the eight count. Now there is only 1 minute left in the final round and Breggy puts his head up and his defence down and screams come on. Ok “ bring it on” Errol must of taken this not lightly and he attacks again and knocks Breggy down again (two knock downs in a tournament and a TKO is the rule in the tournament) Zimmerman is in the finals, what a fight!
The finals of the Amsterdam K-1 GP tournament
Errol Zimmerman vs Zabit Samedov Belarus
At the K-1 rule meeting they were very clear with the rules. No clenching - avoiding the fight. Samedov was warned because it is his trade mark to clinch and avoid the fight against stronger opponents.
The first round with Samedov was not spectacular, but Errol is moving forward landing some knees and straight punches and wins the round by little margin.
The second round we can see both fighters are really tired but Samedov is starting to clinch and gets a warning for this. Then he hits Errol after the break and gets another official warning and point deduction.
The last round both fighters try to reach the end of the round and are fully exhausted (everybody who was there that night agrees that the final was already fought in the form of Errol vs Breggy in the half finals). Samedov gets another warning for holding and this cost him the victory.
An emotional Zimmerman drops to the floor. Promoter Simon Rutz must have known we would win the tournament with Golden Glory as all the confetti reigning down had the colours of Golden Glory red and yellow.
Errol Zimmerman took the microphone and thanked his teammates and especially Ron who always believed in him.
Winner from the K-1 GP Amsterdam tournament Golden Glory a new young star Errol “ The Bonecrusher” Zimmerman
Then it was time for Golden Glory fighter Gokhan “ The rebel” Saki
Gokhan Saki vs Paul Slowinsky Australia
Paul Slowinsky impressed everybody last year, by winning the K-1 Amsterdam GP tournament. Saki is much smaller then Slowinsky but has a 13 fight winning streak (again that number 13 my lucky number).
The fight starts and it is difficult to describe what Saki showed this night in Amsterdam. He just schooled Slowinsky and knocks Paul down with a very well timed and speedy left hook. Saki looks at his corner and listens to coach Cor Hemmers who tells him to follow up with a high kick. The fight continues and saki lands a nice high kick to the head of Slowinsky and then later Saki follows up with that terrible left hook which has become his trade mark. Winner by KO in less then 1 minute Golden Glory fighter Gokhan “the rebel” Saki.
Then it is time for Golden Glory fighter Niecky “ The Natural” Holzken
Nieky Holzken vs Youri Mess
I felt a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Nieky as teammate Errol won the tournament and Saki knocked out Paul Slowinsky this match became a lot more for Nieky then just another fight..
Nieky Holzken made me cry when he ended the reign of dominance of Golden Glory that night in Amsterdam by finishing of Youri Mess with a well timed spinning back kick to the head at the beginning of round 2! It was perfect!
Alistair Overeem was supposed to fight Gilbert Yvel but I think Yvel could not have been injured at a better time, no way that night Alistair would have lost. The Golden Glory spirit was too strong. It looks like Alistair will fight May 11th in dreams.
While driving back home I am thinking of 2003 were I had the worst period of my life with my partners as a manager from Golden Glory. One thing I do know, with dedication and hard work and being fair. A person can achieve anything in life!!! I need some tissue as tears are rolling down my cheeks.
All of this has happened in less then two weeks!
Makes me wonder how this year is going to proceed. It is truly great to be part of Golden Glory which has existed for almost 10 years now!
I have a strong feeling that it is only the beginning of something much bigger!
Story by: Bas Boon & Lindsay Muro
Golden Glory rules!
GOLDEN GLORY Photo’s by: Ben Pontier Photography
