Tournament Draw Set For Las Vegas K-1
Three-time K-1 tournament champion, Michael McDonald (49-12 (23
KO’s), will set out to defend his North American crown when he
squares off with Tsuyoshi Nakasako (16-19-1 (6 KO’s) during the
opening round of the Battle at Bellagio IV, K-1 “World Grand Prix
2005 in Las Vegas” eight-man, single-elimination event at Las
Vegas, Nevada’s Bellagio on Saturday, April 30th. The Pay-Per-View
extravaganza will see 2003 K-1 USA champion, Carter Williams (17-6-1 (12
KO’s), go to war on the opposite end of the tournament draw,
setting up a potential rematch between McDonald and him in the
event’s championship round.
A technically brilliant Muay Thai stylist, McDonald captured an unrivaled, third-career North American K-1 tournament title last April. At 40 years of age, he is not only one of the sport’s premiere poster boys, but is also an ageless warrior who shows no sign of slowing down.
McDonald will begin his bid for a fourth tournament championship in the same tournament bracket as his fellow Canadian, “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (40-20 (29 KO’s). The winner of three previous K-1 Superfights in Las Vegas, Goodridge will face 6 foot 6 inch, 265 pound American, Sean O’Haire, (19-2 (6 KO’s). Both heavy-handed brawlers, Goodridge and his opponent are expected to rush out of the gates and produce a furious slugfest.
Since he captured the first K-1 tournament title of his career two years ago as an 18 to 1 underdog, the 25-year-old Williams has been touted as one of the sport’s future superstars. The Modesto, California knockout artist began his run to the winner’s circle in 2003 by earning an upset, judges’ decision victory over McDonald, the odds favorite in the event. Williams coasted to victory after his first challenge, scoring back-to-back knockouts on Japan’s Yusuke Fujimoto and six-time world kickboxing champion, Rick “The Jet” Roufus. On April 30th, he will engage in a rematch with Fujimoto (15-8 (7 KO’s), who has since reached the championship round of a K-1 Japan Grand Prix tournament (September 2003) and claimed a win over former world boxing champion, Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha.
The other quarterfinal round matchup in Williams’s end of the tournament draw pits two-time world kickboxing champion and undefeated boxer, Dewey “The Black Kobra” Cooper (42-7-2 (26 KO’s) opposite Brazilian Karate sensation, Glaube Feitosa (60-14-1 (57 KO’s). Last April, Cooper posted his best K-1 tournament result to date when he reached the championship round of the “Battle at Bellagio II” single-elimination event.
In addition to the tournament, the April 30th card will play host to reigning K-1 king, Remy Bonjasky (49-10 (30 KO’s), who will face “Battle at Bellagio III” tournament victor, “Mighty Mo” Siligia (25-3 (20 KO’s) in a three-round Superfight. A second three-round Superfight will pit Roufus (61-7 (40 KO’s) against four-time K-1 Japan Grand Prix tournament winner, Musashi (37-20-5 (11 KO’s).
The live Pay Per View television broadcast of Battle at Bellagio IV, the K-1 “World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas” will begin at 10 PM Eastern Standard Time (7 PM Pacific Standard Time) and will be available on iNDemand, DirecTV, and TVN.
Tickets for the April 30th K-1 event are on sale and are priced at $50, $100, $200 and $300, respectively. They may be purchased at the Bellagio’s box office or by calling 1-800-963-9634.
A technically brilliant Muay Thai stylist, McDonald captured an unrivaled, third-career North American K-1 tournament title last April. At 40 years of age, he is not only one of the sport’s premiere poster boys, but is also an ageless warrior who shows no sign of slowing down.
McDonald will begin his bid for a fourth tournament championship in the same tournament bracket as his fellow Canadian, “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (40-20 (29 KO’s). The winner of three previous K-1 Superfights in Las Vegas, Goodridge will face 6 foot 6 inch, 265 pound American, Sean O’Haire, (19-2 (6 KO’s). Both heavy-handed brawlers, Goodridge and his opponent are expected to rush out of the gates and produce a furious slugfest.
Since he captured the first K-1 tournament title of his career two years ago as an 18 to 1 underdog, the 25-year-old Williams has been touted as one of the sport’s future superstars. The Modesto, California knockout artist began his run to the winner’s circle in 2003 by earning an upset, judges’ decision victory over McDonald, the odds favorite in the event. Williams coasted to victory after his first challenge, scoring back-to-back knockouts on Japan’s Yusuke Fujimoto and six-time world kickboxing champion, Rick “The Jet” Roufus. On April 30th, he will engage in a rematch with Fujimoto (15-8 (7 KO’s), who has since reached the championship round of a K-1 Japan Grand Prix tournament (September 2003) and claimed a win over former world boxing champion, Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha.
The other quarterfinal round matchup in Williams’s end of the tournament draw pits two-time world kickboxing champion and undefeated boxer, Dewey “The Black Kobra” Cooper (42-7-2 (26 KO’s) opposite Brazilian Karate sensation, Glaube Feitosa (60-14-1 (57 KO’s). Last April, Cooper posted his best K-1 tournament result to date when he reached the championship round of the “Battle at Bellagio II” single-elimination event.
In addition to the tournament, the April 30th card will play host to reigning K-1 king, Remy Bonjasky (49-10 (30 KO’s), who will face “Battle at Bellagio III” tournament victor, “Mighty Mo” Siligia (25-3 (20 KO’s) in a three-round Superfight. A second three-round Superfight will pit Roufus (61-7 (40 KO’s) against four-time K-1 Japan Grand Prix tournament winner, Musashi (37-20-5 (11 KO’s).
The live Pay Per View television broadcast of Battle at Bellagio IV, the K-1 “World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas” will begin at 10 PM Eastern Standard Time (7 PM Pacific Standard Time) and will be available on iNDemand, DirecTV, and TVN.
Tickets for the April 30th K-1 event are on sale and are priced at $50, $100, $200 and $300, respectively. They may be purchased at the Bellagio’s box office or by calling 1-800-963-9634.
