Choi Hong-man Opens Season Against Mo

By Kang Seung-woo

South Korean fighter Choi Hong-man, who is 2.18 meters tall, will face hard puncher Mighty Mo of the United States on Sunday at the K-1 World Grand Prix in Yokohama, Japan.

The competition is the season opener for Choi, who has been training during his two-month break in competition. He defeated Nigerian Bobby Ologun in 10 seconds in a mixed martial arts bout in December.

Even though he is shorter than the South Korean, the American fighter, who stands 1.83 meters tall, is well known for his hard punch.

Mo, 33, beat the Netherlands’s Remy Bonjasky, a two-time K-1 world champion, and former heavy weight champion Francois Botha of South Africa in 2005.

Many experts predict that Choi has an upper hand over Mo if the fight doesn’t turn into a slugfest.

``Choi needs to take on Mo based on a fomula. Especially, he has to distance himself from Mo’s hooks and upper cuts. Exchanging blows is not favorable,’’ said Kim Tae-hwan, a commentator on XTM, local cable network.

Choi has won 10 bouts and lost twice since his K-1 debut in 2005.

In related news, defending K-1 World Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt of the Netherlands and Ray Sefo of New Zealand will fight for the newly created super heavy weight title.

In their last dual, in 2005, the Dutch knocked out Sefe en route to winning the World Grand Prix throne.

(Source)