The man holding two lightweight crowns does not fight this weekend. He will still have plenty riding on what happens when two contenders meet in Tokyo.
Regian Eersel will be watching closely when Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo and Bogdan Shumarov collide in lightweight kickboxing at ONE SAMURAI 4 on Saturday, October 17. The ONE Lightweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion is ready to defend his kickboxing belt against the winner of the bout at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The 33-year-old is fresh off a fourth-round stoppage of George Jarvis at The Inner Circle 33, where he survived a first-round knockdown to claim a record 12th World Title victory. His kickboxing title now appears to be his next defense.
Shumarov was supposed to face Eersel before an injury forced him out, so the reigning king already studied him in depth. The SB Gym product built his reputation on heavy hooks and overhands and holds a 19-3 record, with all three of his ONE wins ending inside the distance.
What stood out most to Eersel, though, was a less obvious part of the Bulgarian’s arsenal.
“Bogdan, he’s very stretchable with his legs, and he can throw a high kick from a close distance, spinning back kicks, axe kicks,” Eersel said.
Regian Eersel unbothered by Rukiya Anpo so far
Anpo, a Himeji native and former K-1 Super Lightweight Champion, moves up a weight class after a unanimous decision loss to Marat Grigorian at ONE 173 last November. Eersel will be paying close attention to how the Japanese star handles the bigger division.
The Amsterdam resident admits he has not broken down Anpo in the same detail as Shumarov. What he has seen so far has not alarmed him.
“I didn’t study him so well, to tell you honestly. But what I saw, I didn’t see any danger yet. He had some Japanese kicks, and his boxing is good, but I didn’t see any danger yet,” Eersel said.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
0 Comments