Colosseum Tournament 22 - Big Event [18-12] Results

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Colosseum Tournament is one of the most active promotions in the world, hosting its 4th show since September 25th.

The best show I've watched in this pandemic everywhere was Colosseum Tournament 20.

The headliners are brilliant but maybe there is still a lot to come. In my opinion all 3 are Glory or One material, and anyway over that Kondratev. If Caliniuc and Ostrovanu are some of the best youngsters in Europe at 70 kilograms, I also watched Bozan in the penultimate Colosseum event. Bozan is an artist. And Railean is an experienced fighter from Moldova, who owns a belt in the promotion. He will make his professional boxing debut in the United States in 2021. Unfortunately, they haven't uploaded the last 2 shows yet.

[K1power]

I've been catching up on Mix Fight and Colloseum events through Fightbox TV.

Colloseum is a decent promotions, their events feel pretty similar to DFS and SuperKombat during its weaker years.

I like that they featured Ghita a couple of times, but they don't have the kind of money for big name fights so they bank on young talents and local heroes and that's respectable. Thing is with these sort of breeder leagues you're always getting a mixed bag in terms of quality, much more so than with bigger promotions.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Dec 6, 2020 12:15:32 GMT 1 K1power said:

I've been catching up on Mix Fight and Colloseum events through Fightbox TV.

Colloseum is a decent promotions, their events feel pretty similar to DFS and SuperKombat during its weaker years.

I like that they featured Ghita a couple of times, but they don't have the kind of money for big name fights so they bank on young talents and local heroes and that's respectable. Thing is with these sort of breeder leagues you're always getting a mixed bag in terms of quality, much more so than with bigger promotions.

It is clear that they will focus on only a few larger shows throughout the year. This 22nd event can look sensational if we will get more matches like these. In fact, they didn't even say that Bozan vs. Railean will be the co-main event.

The problem is that in Romania there are far too many promotions now and they can't concentrate all the values in 1. In fact, there is much more talent than in the time of Superkombat. Kickboxing seems to be much more evolved now, with dozens of clubs (gyms) and coaches across the country.

Florin Lambagiu, Calin Petrisor, Stefan Latescu, Marko Dusinschi, not sure about Ionut Iancu are in DFS

Sebastian Cozmanca, Sorin Caliniuc, Andrei Ostrovanu, Gabriel Bozan, Silviu Ionescu, Ciprian Sofian, Marian Lapuseanu, Iulian Marinescu, even Vlad Trif in Colosseum

Amansio Paraschiv, Stefan Orza, Cristian Spetcu, Daniel Pattvean in OSS

Let's not count Golden Fighter

And if Eduard Gafencu did return to the Colosseum, DFS clearly lost to the pool. Gafencu is probably the biggest name you can sign these days apart from Adegbuyi, Catinas and the Stoica brothers who are fighting abroad. Morosanu is retiring soon, and Ghita may be completely retired.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Regarding Superkombat, in the years when they didn't pump so much money, they discovered new names. They continued to promote the greatest talent. SK pushed in the last years:

• Sebastian Cozmanca (the biggest name now in Romania along with Gafencu and Lambagiu)
  
• Cristian Spetcu (K-1, China)
  
• Stavros Exakoustidis (K-1, China)
• Cedric Manhoef (Kunlun)
  
• Daniel Stefanovski (Superkombat champion)
• Igor Bugaenko (Superkombat champion, top 5 in the world)
  
• Nayanesh (Kunlun, Thailand)
• Yousri Belgaroui (Glory challenger)
• Yoann Kongolo (Glory challenger)
  
• Tarik Khbabez (Glory, ONE challenger)
  
• Antonio Plazibat (Glory)
  
• D'Angelo Marshall (Glory)
  
• Jamie Bates (Glory, defeated Harut Grigorian recently)
  
• Cesar Almeida (Glory)
• Nordine Mahieddine (Glory)
  
• Zinedine Hameur-Lain (Glory)
  
• Murat Aygun (One Championship, challenger)
• Roman Kryklia (One Championship, champion)
  
• Ibrahim El Bouni (One Championship)
  
• Jorge Loren (Superkombat champion, Enfusion, top 5 in the world)
  
• Moises Bate (Enfusion champion)
• Giannis Stoforidis (Enfusion, ex-Glory)
• Fabio Kwasi (K-1, top 10 in the world)
  
• Tomas Hron (top 10 in the world)
  
• Fred Sikking (top 10 in the world)
• Redouan Cairo (WLF, top 10 in the world)
  
• Volkan Oezdemir (UFC)
  

To name a few. They were lesser known names at the time.

When the pandemic disappears, DFS, Colosseum and OSS Fighters will bring foreigners again. More from Holland. Even Golden Fighter had a Dutchman who signed with Glory. But at present, more will be invested in Romanians. Purses are lower and they have enough talent. In general, in the future, at every event, most Romanians will fight against a foreigner, but there will also be matches between locals. Matches between foreigners as in Superkombat will be much rarer.

 

[K1power]

kickboxer (Banned) said:

In fact, there is much more talent than in the time of Superkombat.

I'm not sure I agree with that.

Sure, more Romanian fighters get a chance now that multiple smaller promotions have popped up after SuperKombat stopped scheduling events.

We've been seeing the same on a global scale since FEG K-1 went bankrupt; more talent got a chance when the Kickboxing landscape fractured.

It's some of the few positive side effects of the fractured kickboxing landscape:
- More talent getting chances.
- More weightclasses getting a push.
- More events overall.

On to some of the negative side effects:
- Average event quality goes down due to scattering of big names.
- Big matchups not happening due the scattering of big names and subsequently less clarity on who's the best.
- Some fighters crossing over to Boxing/MMA because the big money opportunities went down with the top promotion.

The point I'm making is you've highlighted one positive side effect of the fractured kickboxing landscape.
And I agree; there is more visible talent.

However, as I've further layed out in my seemingly incoherent explanation, more is not always better.

I think there currently are only a few 'next' generation fighters that stand out:

- Stefan Latescu
- Marius Munteanu
- Ionut Iancu
- Sebastian Cozmanca
- Amansio Paraschiv
- Bogdan Nastase

The first three need a LOT of work while the latter three aren't event that young anymore as I think they're around 30.

I may have left out a few, but that group isn't even remotely as good as Benjamin Adegbuyi, Andrei Stoica, Bogdan Stoica, Raul Catinas, Catalin Morosanu and Daniel Ghita.

kickboxer (Banned) said:

Regarding Superkombat, in the years when they didn't pump so much money, they discovered new names. They continued to promote the greatest talent.

I wouldn't go as far as saying they 'discovered' them, but SK gave (affordable) international talents a chance and that deserves some credit.

The thing is, SuperKombat in 2011-2012 was great.

From 2013 onward their events got weaker every year until they eventually stopped scheduling events altogether and Irimia went to Hollywood.

Now, It's cool that we see SK branding in Creed II and all, but at this point who knows what's next for them; is there even a future for SuperKombat? What was even the point of Irimia going to Hollywood?

On a sidenote: I remember a bit over a year ago, Irimia posted on Facebook that he found out about someone trying (and failing) to take over the SuperKombat brand name behind his back. He wouldn't mention any name or promotion, but I've been suspecting DFS.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

I have focused on the youngsters. I haven't mentioned some respectable fighters such as Adrian Mitu, Cristian Ristea, Adrian Maxim, Ciprian Schiopu, Marius Munteanu, Madalin Craciunica, Adelin Mihaila etc.

There are certainly more negative effects. The most important is that of competitiveness.

I am not sure about Iancu. However, at his weight, he is a good and resistant athlete since he gained weight. Some call him a phenomenon but I prefer a Latescu. IMO Munteanu is nothing more than respectable. I rate Ristea better, and for me Ristea still does not have the toughness to become a champion. He lost to Kwasi although he's improving.

Ghita is from another generation. Like Iftimoaie, and both were already gone. Let's say Morosanu instead of Ghita.

Nastase looked very fit in his last 3-4 fights. He is still young. Add also Spetcu on your list. Calin Petrisor you don't like?????????????????

You don't like? The following:

- Eduard Gafencu
- Sorin Caliniuc
- Stefan Orza
- Gabriel Bozan
- Silviu Ionescu
- Andrei Ostrovanu (the current one)
- Daniel Pattvean
- Ciprian Sofian
- Iulian Marinescu
- even Vlad Trif and Marian Lapuseanu but I am not sure they will make it

Gafencu is undefeated in the welterweight. Caliniuc I know a talent when I see it. Caliniuc imagine he was a boxer until now, I see massive talent in him. He can become one of the best lightweights on the continent.

And Stefan Orza is a massive talent like Caliniuc. Orza and Silviu Ionescu are 18 years old. Caliniuc and Orza are phenomenal, they will follow Paraschiv's path. No idea about Ionescu but he is very promising and has won every national French title.

Marco Dusinski could be also be in discussion if he makes pro debut finally. Most of them are lightweights/featherweights like the fans are enjoying now.

I think the referee Cezar Gheorghe tried to steal the brand in fact. ) Irimia is filming. He was associate in a movie with Samuel L Jackson. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Asset_(film) And now he's producing a docu-reality named Dream Makers. This guy will return to kickboxing, mark my words.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

You wouldn't really believe the quality of the Romanian youngsters right now in the 65-75 kg.

Gafencu (undefeated)

Caliniuc (I know these are controversial and at least one was a robbery but Caliniuc beat prime Milea on his debut and did so well here, amazing talent because he only had 2 kickboxing fights before this)

Orza (toughest under 19 year old, already defeated an experienced Zanosiev from the gym of Stoicas)

Bozan (this guy is great but I can't find much footage from Romania, only from Austria, and here he does not show his real level of technicity)

Ionescu

And you forgot about Calin Petrisor and Florin "Rambo" Lambagiu.

I can't find footage for Ciprian Sofian yet. He knocked out another 18 year old (Iulian Marinescu, ISKA world champion - junior level).

Plus Daniel Pattvean and Andrei Ostrovanu especially. Many don't know Pattvean's age is only 20. Tall guy.

In my opinion the pool is much, much larger. In Superkombat they were filling with Romanians such as Cosmin Ionescu and even under him. Sure, now Romania lacks 90-95 kg, besides a great Cozmanca but all the divisions are expanded. Before they barely had opponents between 65 and 75.

IMO there are at least 10 Romanian names that deserve to be now in Glory/One Championship, besides the 4. But sure not feeding them right to the wolves.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

I would pick right now:

- Gafencu
- Cozmanca
- Lambagiu
- Paraschiv
- Petrisor
- Caliniuc
- Orza
- Bozan
- Spetcu
- Latescu (to grow him)
- even Ostrovanu

The others are less mature now, some even 18-19 years old. These 11 names at least if I have remembered all of them.

[K1power]

Ghita and Morosanu are only 3 years apart and active during the same era. I wouldn't say they're from a different generation.

As for Cristian Ristea I'm not too impressed. His biggest are over Vladimir Toktasynov and Gordon Haupt.
One particular fight of him I remember seeing is when he got one shotted by Gökhan Gedik a few years ago.
In terms of accomplishments Ristea - at least to me - feels a bit like a younger, scarier looking Sebastian Ciobanu.

And it's not that I necessarily dislike any of the fighters you're mentioning. Hell some of them I've never even heard of so I wouldn't know. But I've seen a few of them compete in Colloseum and/or DFS and from that sample size nothing about any of these fighters made me think 'This is the next Benjamin Adegbuyi!' or whatever big name Romanian fighter.

Having good movement, speed, power etc. is nice, but it only means something once you're tested against well known fighters. There are lots of Dutch fighters I've seen compete in local events over here that looked impressive against lesser known names, but didn't do too well in step up fights and failed to break through internationally.

With that being said, sure, maybe in three years some of them will have had a breakthrough year. Anything can happen.

And why would Lungu Ref steal the SK brand? I'm genuinely interested.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Also the overweight Gheorghe, not the fighter. You know him, the referee. If I remember well. He registered the brand. No idea what happened, I think the CEO was pissed off. Maybe they are friends now. Irimia was betrayed also by the Stoicas. They wanted more money.

Gafencu is really good, K1power, Cozmanca is also ready for big fights. Lambagiu is already 24 years old and is very close. Petrisor may also not be more, I am more and more impressed. Corbeanu was ready for the rematch, he is really not so old and did well before in the promotion against some Dutchmen. Now he was smashed again, third one is insane from Petrisor. Petrisor is just 22.

The others are too young or with not so many matches yet, but if they would take them gradually they would be ready for Glory/ONE. I just hope they don't plan to give up. We may talk well about them in some years if the matchmaking is correct.

Now the sparring in Romania is greater, but Holland is a reference as opponency. Otherwise the circuit is probably the most competitive in Europe. The Romanians I've met, they don't have too much trust in them. All of them. Just a part of them.

Stoicas, Catinas, Adegbuyi and others were phenomenons.

I understand what you say. Schiopu before when he was lighter looked pretty tough, stil far from Andrei Stoica. Now that Schiopu knocked Bates out. And Bates recently won over Harut Grigorian. I know Gafencu defensively is untested, but his chin may also be strong. We will see if the strongest.

Gafencu is basically the best Romanian product right now, because he is technical and has many weapons and can play plan Bs. He has way too many weapons in his hands not to confirm. Bozan since he's also working with the former coach of Gafencu aka Ruben Stoia is better. After just some weeks. Stoia owns a boxing club in Western Romania. The welterweight is tough though. Cozmanca could definitely KO Susperregui, and even Hameur Lain and Machado. But at 77-80 really there is high competition.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Regarding Ristea, I haven't praised him but I said I didn't mention him because I don't see him as a major talent. Still, he is one of the most respectable. Over Munteanu anyway, at level of Mitu from Golden Fighter. Technical Mitu.

The main weakness of Ristea is his toughness. But in 2015 he was trash. He was loosing a lot even against Romanians.

He gained weight and went from better to better. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristian_Ristea

Still losing to Kornilov who is too slow for Glory, Kwasi and Bchiri are definitely better. But in most of these fights he did well. And he knocked Froschauer out, ISKA world champion.

I have gained some respect for Ristea, he's a hard working. I think he's a decent heavyweight. If he finds more toughness and with a lot of work, he can even improve more his rankings. He's really a warrior these days, he's suffering in the ring.

[K1power]

Dec 7, 2020 16:49:09 GMT 1 kickboxer (Banned) said:

Also the overweight Gheorghe, not the fighter. You know him, the referee. If I remember well. He registered the brand. No idea what happened, I think the CEO was pissed off. Maybe they are friends now. Irimia was betrayed also by the Stoicas. They wanted more money.

I'm familiar with Gheorghe. h and I call him Lungu ref, because, well, he looks like Lungu

I still suspect DFS of the attempted brand steal. Their style just feels so similar to SK, but who knows. We may find out at some point. I'd be cool with Irimia returning to the sport. I met him in 2013 and he was full of energy, very hyper. If he's fully committed to returning to the fight game it'd be interesting to see how far he can take it.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

No, because their manager Alin - a former sports journalist - is Eduard's pupil (plus he's too smart and educated to bite the hand that fed him). In my opinion, DFS has continued the policy of improving the judging. Plus they also removed the tables.

Eduard criticised the scene several times and being a shareholder of OSS Fighters wanted to show that they are superior as rosters and better in everything including matchmaking.

On the other hand, DFS also continued the reform in matchmaking. Latescu in the second fight already fought Iancu and there have been many more balanced matches. They lack the money of SK but want to do many good things.

At one point I think both Gheorghe and Alin were agents. Gheorghe even calls himself a coach and claims that he trains fighters at Superkombat Academy. Anyway, he has a good image in Romania. Not one of a bad guy.

But there are no indications that Eduard would have argued with DFS, not even with Gheorghe now.

Eduard could have taken this sport to another level or at least back to the K-1 era. He also had experience in boxing matchmaking from before. Plus he has a degree in medicine, and his father taught boxing in Ploeshti. Ploeshti being a factory of boxers in the past. He often tried to associate with very rich people, he dreamed of Dubai the most. He got into trouble with several, including the Russian from Germany who really owned luxury car showrooms. You don't see anyone today organising tryouts like him and creating academies. Plus he was also a philanthropist.

And also compared to Stoicas, Catalin remained faithful to Eduard's promotion. Catalin is involved with the liberals and can't even risk a scandal. So no way DFS had something to do with this.

[kickboxer (Banned)]

Cezar has a brother, Stelian, who is MMA referee in RXF.

Gheorghe says that he became a referee in 2003 after quitting boxing and taewkondo, and thanks to Igor Jushko who organised a selection with 100 "eagers" in Romania. He refereed over 1,000 televised matches and officiated even in the United States. It's a discreet presence outside the ring.

He is a graduate of sociology and holds master in management, banking and accounting. Passionate about history, shooting and offroad. He is "dacomaniac", thinks the Romanians are not Romans and only the descendents of the Dacians. Some Romanians also call this category as "dacopaths". He has a tattoo with Dacian king Decebalus. His favourite remains Vlad The Impaler (Dracula). Really funny guy.

www.gsp.ro/sporturi/altele/exclusiv-absolvent-de-sociologie-le-tine-piept-in-ring-luptatorilor-de-kickboxing-povestea-inedita-a-lui-cezar-gheorghe-cel-mai-cunoscut-arbitru-roman-474620.html

[K1power]

I've met Alin as well. He's actually the one to introduce me to Irimia. I think was SK's media manager when they were still holding events. Now he's more or less the top dog at DFS.

At one point a few years ago Alin contacted me to do some graphics for SK (and possibly K-1 global), but that fell through when we couldn't agree on designs.