GOKHAN SAKI believes he is ready to relieve Badr Hari of his K-1 heavyweight title after knocking
out Paul Slowinski.
Many insiders and fight fans thought Slowinski would be too strong for Saki in a much-anticipated battle
of the low kick merchants at the Amsterdam ArenA.
But crowd favourite Saki made the experts eat their words as he destroyed Slowinski with huge punches in
the first round of their It's Showtime superfight.
And after polishing off Australia's Slowinski in double-quick time, the Team Golden Glory fighter repeated
his desire to renew hostilities with Hari.
Saki suffered a retirement defeat to his Dutch countryman when they met earlier in their careers but insists
it will be a different story if and when they meet again.
"This is my time - I think I can beat Badr Hari now, of course," Saki told Fightnewz.net.
"I told Japanese TV after the Slowinski fight that I want to fight against Badr Hari in a rematch for
the heavyweight title.
"I fought before against him four, five years ago at Ahoy in Rotterdam and lost with a rib injury.
"It wasn't broken but I wasn't 100% in my head. Now I'm 24 years old and I want to fight against everybody.
"I train really good and I'm too fast for Hari. That's what I think and I think I could knock him out. I've
just knocked out Paul Slowinski, why not Badr Hari?"
Renowned as a fearsome kicker, Saki showed a new string to his bow as he floored 2007 European Grand
Prix winner Slowinski with an overhand right, then repeated the trick with a savage left hook.
Slowinski somehow struggled to his feet a second time but referee Joop Ubeda waved the fight off with the
Ernesto Hoost disciple lurching drunkenly.
The victory extended Saki's unbeaten streak and the spectacular manner of it came as no surpise to
the man who has no doubt that he is going all the way to this year's K-1 Final.
"I said before I would win the fight. I trained really good and I knew before the fight I would win because
I had a tactic and did my job," he said.
"I feel like I'm ready for more chances in Japan now, of course. This year is my year, I'm going to the
last eight for sure, 100%."
Saki has plenty of business to attend to before then, with a bout against Englishman James McSweeney lined
up first at Beast of the East in Zutphen on May 31.
Fighting on the same card as Saki's win over Slowinski, McSweeney was stopped in the first round of his
K-1 tournament reserve fight by Brian Douwes.
Saki feels the Brit should look elsewhere for his next match rather than face him.
He added: "I don't think he will fight against me. He's a good guy and a nice guy
but he doesn't have the experience.
"For me, I think it's better if he fights against someone who is in the beginning as a professional fighter."
