Kawajiri Puts SHOOTO Welterweight Belt Up Against Hansen
Stephen Martinez Nov 6, 2005
TOKYO, Nov. 6 — The SHOOTO international commission and main
promoter Sustain made official during a break of the fight card at
Korakuen Hall today a match-up between current SHOOTO welterweight
champion Tatsuya
Kawajiri (Pictures) and No. 2 world ranked SHOOTO
welterweight Joachim
Hansen (Pictures) to take place in February 17 at
Yoyogi Arena in Tokyo.
The official contract signing ceremony was held in the middle of the ring with representatives from both Sustain and the SHOOTO commission, along with both Kawajiri and Hansen.
This fight was originally scheduled for December 14, but strong
rumors indicate both Kawajiri and Hansen (or at least one of them)
are mulling offers from PRIDE to fight on its New Year's Eve
card.
This will mark Kawajiri's first title defense since he took the belt away from Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) December 2004.
Both Kawajiri and Hansen last saw action at the PRIDE Bushido Lightweight Tournament (160 pounds) where Kawajiri lost to Bushido ace Takanori Gomi (Pictures) via rear-naked choke. Hansen, meanwhile, fought two hard fights that night, losing in the semifinals to Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).
Finally, the anti-climatic moment Sunday between the usual 154-lb. fighters came at the end of the picture session with members of the Japanese and International media ringside. With the final shot having been taken, Hansen tried to shake hands with Kawajiri. However, he found a negative response from the champion, who stepped back and left the Norwegian fighter in the middle of the ring with a bittersweet look on his face.
The official contract signing ceremony was held in the middle of the ring with representatives from both Sustain and the SHOOTO commission, along with both Kawajiri and Hansen.
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This will mark Kawajiri's first title defense since he took the belt away from Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) December 2004.
Both Kawajiri and Hansen last saw action at the PRIDE Bushido Lightweight Tournament (160 pounds) where Kawajiri lost to Bushido ace Takanori Gomi (Pictures) via rear-naked choke. Hansen, meanwhile, fought two hard fights that night, losing in the semifinals to Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).
Finally, the anti-climatic moment Sunday between the usual 154-lb. fighters came at the end of the picture session with members of the Japanese and International media ringside. With the final shot having been taken, Hansen tried to shake hands with Kawajiri. However, he found a negative response from the champion, who stepped back and left the Norwegian fighter in the middle of the ring with a bittersweet look on his face.
