“Mr. Excellent” Ernesto Hoost heads into SENSHI 30 as the person generations nonetheless use as a measuring stick, but he admits one rivalry nonetheless bothers him: Bob Sapp. We spoke to Hoost forward of the February 28 fight event.
Within the early 2000s Ok-1 growth, fighters like Sapp and Francisco Filho raised their very own profiles by being the few who managed to beat Hoost whereas he was thought to be probably the most full heavyweight kickboxer within the sport. Talking forward of SENSHI’s anniversary gala in Varna, the four-time Ok-1 World Grand Prix winner is open about how these Sapp fights nonetheless sit behind his thoughts.
Ernesto Hoost Talks Bob Sapp Matches
“In 2002, I turned champion once more, however actually, that feeling wasn’t 100%. As a result of I misplaced to Bob Sapp earlier than that, it left one thing unfinished for me,” he said, tying his fourth Grand Prix title to the shock that got here earlier. Their first bout on the Ok-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Closing Elimination ended with a health care provider stoppage after Sapp battered ahead with sheer measurement and energy, a outcome that shocked followers and media used to seeing Hoost decide aside giants. Hoost nonetheless struggles with the way it performed out contained in the ring.
“I nonetheless don’t actually see that battle as a traditional battle, ? Sapp was such an enormous man, virtually 170 kilos of muscle, and he hit arduous. What I heard later was that the referee was instructed to let him get away with loads. He was grabbing me with one hand and hitting with the opposite, virtually like in a avenue battle. I appeared on the referee like, ‘What is that this?’ However the referee simply stated, ‘Go on, go on.’”
The rematch got here shortly within the Ok-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Closing in Saitama, the place Sapp’s strain led to a different TKO and sealed one of many strangest two-fight collection of that period. “Later, I heard tales that they sort of programmed him to battle like that, to only go loopy. They gave me a rematch as a result of the scores have been very excessive from the primary battle,” Hoost stated.
When Sapp pulled out of the event injured, Hoost re-entered as a late alternative and received your complete Grand Prix, beating Ray Sefo and stopping Jérôme Le Banner to grow to be the primary four-time Ok-1 champion, but he says that triumph at all times felt difficult. “After that, although, I began to make errors. Shedding that approach affected me mentally. I misplaced once more, and even in the present day, that is still the most important frustration of my profession. Particularly as a result of I really believed I may beat him.”
Hoost compares that frustration together with his collection in opposition to Francisco Filho, the place he took a 2–1 edge over three fights and feels the rivalry reached a pure conclusion. “You understand, I beat Filho the primary time, misplaced the second, and received the third, that’s nice. However with Bob Sapp, I misplaced twice, and that stays with me. It’s a part of my story, a part of my frustration, but in addition a part of what made my profession what it’s.”
He makes clear he doesn’t carry anger in the direction of Sapp himself.
“I’ve no dangerous emotions in the direction of him. I don’t blame him for what occurred. Possibly slightly bit myself, possibly my coach, there are at all times stuff you look again on and assume you possibly can’ve completed in a different way. My coach stated, ‘Simply battle him, he’s an enormous bum.’ Yeah, it’s straightforward to say while you have been within the nook and also you have been exterior to say what you must’ve completed. However contained in the ring, it’s completely different. Nonetheless, I’m at peace with it. I perceive what occurred and why. It was a troublesome scenario for everybody, additionally financially, however that’s how this sport goes typically.”
SENSHI 30
Today Hoost is among the most important faces of SENSHI. He works as a head teacher on the SENSHI Worldwide Martial Arts Camps in Bulgaria, serves on the KWU SENSHI board, and is concerned as a coach, referee, choose and commentator in the course of the occasions. He has said that what he enjoys most is passing on his timing, combos and ring sense to fighters who return camp after camp, and that SENSHI’s format reminds him of the Ok-1 nights that constructed his title.
“I feel that the fighters and members actually admire what I and my colleagues, legends within the combating world, are doing for the SENSHI group,” he defined in a single latest interview, calling his work in Bulgaria a key turning level in his life after retirement.
SENSHI 30, set for February 28 on the Palace of Tradition and Sports activities in Varna, is billed as an anniversary gala constructed round a first-time Grand Prix at 75 kg. Twelve fighters from 13 nations will meet beneath KWU FULL CONTACT guidelines in a direct-elimination format the place the winner has to get by way of three fights in a single evening to grow to be the primary SENSHI Grand Prix champion on this division.
The cardboard lists quarterfinal pairings together with Gasham Mammadov vs Zhulien Rikov, Konstantin Rusu vs Florin Lambagiu, Jordi Requejo vs Konstantin Stoykov, and Máximo Suárez vs Christian Baya, plus reserve bouts Aibek Amanov vs Victor Krashevski (Bulgaria) and Fernando “Tigre” (Portugal) vs Dávid Kinkhefner.
Three tremendous fights full the line-up: Hirokatsu Miyagi (Japan) vs Samo Petje (Slovenia) at beneath 70 kg, Charalampos Digkas (Greece) vs Diyan Dimitrov (Bulgaria) at beneath 70 kg.
For Hoost, who calls SENSHI’s Grand Prix format a technique to revive the previous event feeling, SENSHI 30 is one other likelihood to face near the ring, move on hard-earned classes from nights like Sapp–Hoost, and watch a brand new group attempt to write their very own shock outcome into kickboxing historical past.
