K-1 Closes Year with ‘Dynamite!!’

Dec 27, 2007
K-1 Rules: 3 min. x 3R Ex.2R / 70 kg (154 pounds)
Masato vs. Yong Soo Choi


Ensuring the female population of Japan tunes in, Masato makes his annual appearance against, as usual on New Year's Eve, a boxer.

Yong Soo Choi does have more than decent credentials as a boxer. From 1995-98 he held the WBA super featherweight strap. He has also had some success under kickboxing rules, racking up a couple of KO wins, though he is on a lower plane than Masato when it comes to K-1.

The 2003 K-1 World MAX Champion put in the performance of his career in this year's finals against Buakaw Por.Pramuk. Going into the fight, Masato was largely thought to be finished as a tournament fighter, his legs having given up on him a long time ago. But Masato took the fight to the Thai and made it to the finals only for his body to quit on him in the second round.

Prediction: Masato by TKO in the second. Masato's legs are just about done, but he'll have enough in them to chop down Choi. Boxing does not equal K-1, and Masato is an expert of making that evident. This is just an exhibition match for Masato, so expect it to play out like one.