Daniel Ghita's annihilation of three opponents in less than six minutes at the K-1 in Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying Grand Prix was the stuff of legend. In doing so Ghita (pronounced Ghitsa) smashed a K-1 record that many thought would never be beaten, writes MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO.
When Dutch Lumberjack Peter Aerts won the K-1 World Grand Prix tournament for a third time in 1998, he was at the peak of his extraordinary powers. Not only did Aerts win the world's most grueling 8-man tournament for a (then) record third time but also he did so in record fashion, completing the tournament in only 6 minutes and 43 seconds.
Since 1998 many had tried to take Aerts' record but none even came close.
Ernesto Hoost took 19:35 for his 1999 Grand Prix win; Semmy Schilt took 11:56 for his 2005 Grand Prix win; Remy Bonjasky took 13:44 for his 2003 Grand Prix win; and even Mark Hunt and his fabled knocked power took 26:32 to win the 2001 Grand Prix.
Once again Aerts' legendary 6:43 appeared unbreakable.
Enter Romania's Daniel Ghita at the K-1 in Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying Grand Prix on August 11, 2009. It was on that night that the heavily fancied Ghita, whose name had been bandied around Europe for a long time among hardcore fans as a fierce competitor deserving of a K-1 contract, finally made his Japanese K-1 debut. He did not fail to deliver.
Romanian fighter, Daniel Ghita, sliced through his 3 opponents in a combined time of just 5 minutes and 15 seconds. This not only breaks Aerts' record, but it shaves almost 1 minute and 30 seconds off it. What makes it even more interesting is that all three fighters fell to the same technique. The low kick.
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