marcelt
12-09-2009, 11:18
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/sub01.gif -- You are going to enter the WGP opening match with a recommendation by the sponsors and the fan's vote.
Feitosa: I appreciate that my fans didn't forget me. I'm grateful to be selected from among all the many great K-1 fighters. At the same time, I feel a responsibility. I want to train really hard so as not to disappoint my fans, and to be strong in the ring.
-- It's been your first match since your fight with Junichi Sawayashiki in March.
Feitosa: I've been waiting for it. I'm ready to fight. I'll do my best because I really want to fight in the finals in December.
-- What have you been training for the last 6 months?
Feitosa: I have been in Brazil. I was at Fransisco Filho's gym, training with him, his friend George Alias, and his father Santo Alias.
-- Who is Alias family?
Feitosa: George is a former top-ranked boxer, and he used to be Filho's personal boxing trainer. My condition is supreme since I have been doing high-level training with them.
-- That means you have been brushing up your boxing skills?
Feitosa: Yes; especially defensive skills. I was lacking in the boxing department compared to other fighters, as I am from Kyokushin Karate. I wanted to obtain the boxing techniques to cover my weakness. George is one of the top boxers in South America, and I had a great time with him there. I feel I've become much stronger.
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph01.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph01b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph02.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph02b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph03.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph03b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph04.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph04b.jpg)
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/sub02.gif -- You must have a hunger to win this year because you lost last year's WGP opening match, right?
Feitosa: After I was defeated last year, I really felt that I am not invincible, and no one is unbeatable.
-- I suppose you must be very frustrated.
Feitosa: I realize that I have lots of holes after that fight. I had to get over my weakness. I learnt a lesson, even though I lost. I have been trying very hard since then, because I want to fight in the final this year. It's not going to be like last year.
-- That's great! But you're going to fight against Errol Zimmerman, the very man who defeated you last year.
Feitosa: Yeah, I know. But it's nothing like revenge.
-- You are in control of yourself?
Feitosa: I don't choose who I'm going to fight, because I am a professional fighter. I just fight with anyone that is selected by the promoter, and I only focus on winning the match. But personally, it honestly does motivate me to fight against an opponent that I have not only lost to, but one that scored a down against me.
-- In the last year's final, Everton Teixeira, who is also from Kyokushin, was defeated by Zimmerman. That is, Kyokushin fighters lost 2 consecutive games.
Feitosa: Well… but still it's not revenge, because my goal is to win in the final. I don't care who I fight. It's up to you guys and the fans if you take this fight as revenge or not. To me, it's only the first step towards the title.
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/sub03.gif -- How do you judge the new face Zimmerman from a veteran's point of view?
Feitosa: I think it is necessary to have a generational change in any kind of sports. He is a great fighter and has high skills. Last year was a great year for him as a direct result of those skills. He never shows his back to the opponent in the match. He fought evenly with Peter Aerts in March. K-1 needs a high-leveled fighter like him.
-- But you are not going to be defeated by the new face, right?
Feitosa: (smile) Of course not. I'm not going to lose. -Well, you do sound like you want to take revenge.
Feitosa: I don't have any feelings against him, but I do have some against myself. Because I feel I defeated myself. I improved the way I train, and started again from the beginning because of those feelings. I'm going to fight with him again. I'm looking forward to showing my upgraded skills to him.
-- I see. How do you think the match is going to go?
Feitosa: I'm going to take a different approach. I also trained to be mentally strong. You never know what's going to happen in the fight game; you might win at the very last minute. I want to become strong both physically and mentally.
-- Are you confident in winning the match this year?
Feitosa: My goal is to go to the final and win the title. But I'm powerless alone. I'm sure Everton feels the same way. Thanks to my great team, I can fight in the ring. I want to be in the final for them. I'm not going to disappoint my fans who voted for me!
Feitosa: I appreciate that my fans didn't forget me. I'm grateful to be selected from among all the many great K-1 fighters. At the same time, I feel a responsibility. I want to train really hard so as not to disappoint my fans, and to be strong in the ring.
-- It's been your first match since your fight with Junichi Sawayashiki in March.
Feitosa: I've been waiting for it. I'm ready to fight. I'll do my best because I really want to fight in the finals in December.
-- What have you been training for the last 6 months?
Feitosa: I have been in Brazil. I was at Fransisco Filho's gym, training with him, his friend George Alias, and his father Santo Alias.
-- Who is Alias family?
Feitosa: George is a former top-ranked boxer, and he used to be Filho's personal boxing trainer. My condition is supreme since I have been doing high-level training with them.
-- That means you have been brushing up your boxing skills?
Feitosa: Yes; especially defensive skills. I was lacking in the boxing department compared to other fighters, as I am from Kyokushin Karate. I wanted to obtain the boxing techniques to cover my weakness. George is one of the top boxers in South America, and I had a great time with him there. I feel I've become much stronger.
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph01.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph01b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph02.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph02b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph03.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph03b.jpg) http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph04.jpg (http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/ph04b.jpg)
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/sub02.gif -- You must have a hunger to win this year because you lost last year's WGP opening match, right?
Feitosa: After I was defeated last year, I really felt that I am not invincible, and no one is unbeatable.
-- I suppose you must be very frustrated.
Feitosa: I realize that I have lots of holes after that fight. I had to get over my weakness. I learnt a lesson, even though I lost. I have been trying very hard since then, because I want to fight in the final this year. It's not going to be like last year.
-- That's great! But you're going to fight against Errol Zimmerman, the very man who defeated you last year.
Feitosa: Yeah, I know. But it's nothing like revenge.
-- You are in control of yourself?
Feitosa: I don't choose who I'm going to fight, because I am a professional fighter. I just fight with anyone that is selected by the promoter, and I only focus on winning the match. But personally, it honestly does motivate me to fight against an opponent that I have not only lost to, but one that scored a down against me.
-- In the last year's final, Everton Teixeira, who is also from Kyokushin, was defeated by Zimmerman. That is, Kyokushin fighters lost 2 consecutive games.
Feitosa: Well… but still it's not revenge, because my goal is to win in the final. I don't care who I fight. It's up to you guys and the fans if you take this fight as revenge or not. To me, it's only the first step towards the title.
http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/wgp2009/final16/fighter/images/glaube_0909/sub03.gif -- How do you judge the new face Zimmerman from a veteran's point of view?
Feitosa: I think it is necessary to have a generational change in any kind of sports. He is a great fighter and has high skills. Last year was a great year for him as a direct result of those skills. He never shows his back to the opponent in the match. He fought evenly with Peter Aerts in March. K-1 needs a high-leveled fighter like him.
-- But you are not going to be defeated by the new face, right?
Feitosa: (smile) Of course not. I'm not going to lose. -Well, you do sound like you want to take revenge.
Feitosa: I don't have any feelings against him, but I do have some against myself. Because I feel I defeated myself. I improved the way I train, and started again from the beginning because of those feelings. I'm going to fight with him again. I'm looking forward to showing my upgraded skills to him.
-- I see. How do you think the match is going to go?
Feitosa: I'm going to take a different approach. I also trained to be mentally strong. You never know what's going to happen in the fight game; you might win at the very last minute. I want to become strong both physically and mentally.
-- Are you confident in winning the match this year?
Feitosa: My goal is to go to the final and win the title. But I'm powerless alone. I'm sure Everton feels the same way. Thanks to my great team, I can fight in the ring. I want to be in the final for them. I'm not going to disappoint my fans who voted for me!