He flew to Singapore to fight for the kickboxing world title on Saturday. Tilburger Tayfun Özcan already dreamed of the golden belt. But when we arrived in Singapore, everything went differently than planned. What was supposed to be a high point in his career ended in a major disappointment in all areas.
A week ago, in the middle of the night, Tayfun suddenly received an offer to fly to Singapore to take on featherweight champion Superbon Singha Mawynn in a real title fight. His opponent had fallen out. The ONE organization saw in the Tilburger, a big name in kickboxing, the ideal opponent to fill that vacant spot. Something Tayfun was only too happy to say yes to.
That meant an adjustment for Tayfun in his preparation, because originally he would face Marat Grigorian. A very different type of opponent. Everything had to be turned around at the last minute, after six weeks of targeted preparation.
“Gone world title fight, which I had been looking forward to.”
In Singapore, Tayfun then spent a week preparing for his title fight with Superbon. “Then you come across the necessary fighters in the lobby over time. But I didn’t see Superbon at all. I thought that was very strange, but I thought: maybe we just missed each other.”
But he also did not see his opponent at the official weigh-in. “Then I asked the organization where Superbon was, but no clear answer could be given. Then I already felt wet. Then they came up with the story that Superbon had been ill all week. He would even go to the hospital a few times. had been on antibiotics and hadn’t recovered in time. Gone world title fight, which I had been looking forward to.”
“In a week of fighting, you should stay away from the spicy food in Singapore.”
The organization then looked for a replacement opponent for him. That again ended up with Marat Grigorian, because his opponent – Jamal Yusupov – had also withdrawn for medical reasons.
“Jamal had eaten a bit too spicy,” Tayfun told the radio program ‘De Zuidtribune’ on Omroep Brabant radio on Sunday afternoon. “Everyone who comes to Singapore knows that they should not eat spicy food. The food there is superb nice, but not good in a week when you have to fight. But he took the risk anyway…”
“I don’t agree with the result.”
That duel with Grigorian then ended in a big deception. “I was quite satisfied with that match,” Tayfun looked back on the radio. “My cover was very close. I hardly had to take any hits on my face. low kicksI have to be honest about that. The first round was clear to him, because he was more dominant. But I think the second and third rounds were for me because I hit him more than he hit me. I was the more active fighter and made more points.” Still, the judges unanimously awarded the victory to his opponent. “Maybe the impact of his tapping was the deciding factor.”
The Tilburger speaks of a major disappointment. “I don’t agree with the result, but it remains a jury sport and Marat has done well.”
“It was a roller coaster.”
Yet Tayfun remains with the unpleasant feeling that he could not have optimally prepared for the fight with Grigorian. “First I prepared for a fight with Marat for six weeks. Then I had to compete against Superbon, that was switching because of those middle kicks of his. And two days before that game was due to take place, I had to switch again because I hit Marat anyway. It was a rollercoaster. And then I also had to fight at nine o’clock in the morning because the game was broadcast in America. That all played a role.”
The consequence of the defeat against Grigorian is that Tayfun now has to wait a little longer for a new fight for the world title. “I will now have to take out one or two other opponents first. Then I will probably have to take on Marat again to be able to fight Superbon.”
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