Teixeira takes K-1 Japan GP; Schilt and Hari Also Win in Fukuoka
FUKUOKA, June 29, 2008 -- Twenty-six-year-old kyokushin fighter Ewerton Teixeira of Brazil won the K-1 Japan Grand Prix 2008; while Semmy Schilt and Badr Hari defended their Championship Belts tonight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka.

Held on the Japanese southern island of Kyushu, the event comprised the eight-man Japan GP 08 elimination tournament; a Superfight between veteran superstar Peter Aerts and Jan "The Giant" Nortje; and a couple of highly-anticipated title matches -- Schilt versus Jerome LeBanner for the Super Heavyweight Belt; and Hari versus Glaube Feitosa for the K-1 Heavyweight Belt.

The Super Heavyweight title match featured Defending K-1 World GP and Super Heavyweight Champion Semmy Schilt. The 6'11"/211cm - 128kg/282lbs Dutch seidokaikan karate fighter stepped in against one of K-1's most respected veterans, Jerome LeBanner of France.

Fighting from a southpaw stance, LeBanner answered Schilt's early low kicks in kind, but Schilt soon tagged him with a right straight punch. With his 22cm/9" height advantage and long reach, Schilt made it look easy -- leaning forward to casually throw the right, closing and pulling his opponent's head downward to deliver the knee. A spunky LeBanner kept his guard relaxed, putting aggressiveness ahead of defense, ever flirting with danger. The Frenchman closed repeatedly, landing a left to come out of the first round ahead on one judge's card. In the second, Schilt went with low kicks and approached with the fists, scoring with both the right and left. LeBanner meanwhile struggled to get through, often leading with the left, but not finding his distance against the Tower of Power.

Schilt put in punches and the knee and spun around a back kick that just missed to start the third. LeBanner continued to press, leading again with the left, getting the crowd into it when he put a punch up on Schilt's collarbone. LeBanner's pesky low kicks were part of his in-and-out strategy here, but these did not appear to bother the Dutch behemoth, who gave back more than he got during the exchanges. As the clock timed out, Schilt simply stayed back and waited, hoisting the big knee when his opponent got close.

Schilt by majority decision. With the victory, Schilt both defended his belt and set a new K-1 record -- his 14 consecutive victories bettering the string of 13 wins Peter Aerts put together in '93-'96.

"I want to thank all my fans," said Schilt from center ring, "and send a special thanks to my fans in Holland, because I know they're all watching. I also want to thank my wife and my son, because they give me great inspiration!"

"I've defended my belt three times now," said Schilt in his post-fight interview, "and I think people expect me to always win by KO. But that's difficult, I just concentrate to win the fight, that's my goal. I've heard that Badr Hari wants to fight me, if that's set up then I'm happy to meet him, but he should know that I won't give away my belt so easily!"