TYRONE Spong feels the way he outclassed Zabit Samedov in his latest contest proves he is destined
for a place in the 2009 K-1 Final.
‘King of the Ring’ Spong put in a majestic performance to boss the Belarussian
- a twice K-1 elimination tournament finalist - and lift the It’s Showtime 95 kilo title on unanimous points.
It
was the 23-year-old's most notable victory since moving up to heavyweight and Spong is convinced he
will kick on again next year and reach the annual K-1 extravaganza in Japan.
Spong said: “I think I’ve
got good ability to reach the top of K-1 because Samedov has beaten a lot of heavyweights and also made it to the final in
Amsterdam this year.
“A lot of people thought it was a strange decision that Errol Zimmerman won the fight and
that Samedov really won it.
“So for me it’s a big victory. I’m definitely looking to make the final
eight
next year.
“I’ve made a right step at heavyweight, so let's do it.”
Spong dominated Samedov
from start to finish in Eindhoven after landing some spiteful early body shots, racking up his third straight heavyweight
victory.
But ominously for his future opponents, the super-skilled Dutchman who has won a string of world titles at
different weights believes he can fight even better after being inactive for part of the year due to a motorbike crash.
“It
was a good performance for me for sure and I’ve got a lot of respect for him because he can take a lot of punishment,”
said Spong.
“But it was my first full fight after a long time really. I had a lot of
injuries after my motorbike
accident.
“I had a lot of bruises to my hip, my liver had a little fracture in it and
was bleeding and my
ribs were bruised and I didn't have my rhythm.
“But it was still a good fight, I outclassed him for sure and
I was better
conditioned physically. I’m proud of my victory.”
Spong will remain deep in training over
Christmas as he fights former K-1 veteran Samir Bennazouz next on January 24.
But the one kickboxing fans are looking
forward to most is his scheduled match with recent K-1 semi-finalist Gokhan Saki at the Amsterdam ArenA in May.
On
paper it looks like his toughest test, but Spong is unfazed by the
challenge as he aims to increase his impact on the heavyweight
division.
“I’m looking forward to the Saki fight - I can’t wait for it and want to
fight him right
now,” he said.
“I’m convinced I will win and I don’t think it’s the hardest fight of
my
career.
“I’ve had a lot of fights and I think my hardest fights were at the
beginning of my career.
“You
don’t have the experience, you don’t know what to expect with your condition and the bruising and everything.
“It’s
my manager’s job to get me fights, I just fight. I want to fight
everybody, I don’t care who.”
Spong’s
trainer Lucien Carbin shares his fighter’s belief that he was not on peak form against Samedov.
But he is confident that the rising Amsterdam star will thrive at heavyweight the more he
adjusts to it.
Carbin, who was unable to take Spong on the pads in the build-up to Samedov due to a left
bicep injury, said: "I was angry because I couldn't train with him, which meant he didn't throw the combinations
which he normally does.
"So for a month he was only training on simple things - left hook, low kick.
"The usual explosive power wasn't there and in top sport if you don't train for one week the way we train,
you lose it."
Carbin added: "He has to get used to the weight, it's still early.
"He was about 92, 93 kilos for Samedov but I want him to be 88, 90 kilos for a year to get used
to it.
"He has to get used to not going toe to toe, because heavyweights even have big power in their jabs.
"But in gym sessions with other fighters he beats them all up. He went to Floyd Mayweather's camp in America
and he was beating everybody up.
"Nobody who has come to our gym - heavyweight champions, Russians, Americans - has beaten him."
