Choi From Hero to Scrap-Heap Fighter
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Fighter Choi Hong-man's once-promising career in the ring is coming to a shameful end.
The 2.18-meter South Korean behemoth was forced to submit to Ikuhisa Minowa through leg lock in the semifinals of the DREAM Super Hulk Tournament in Yokohama, Japan last week.
Choi, dubbed as ``Techno Goliath,'' has become a national punch line since he was favored to win due to his size advantage of 43 centimeters and 50 kilograms, but could not dominate the Japanese veteran physically.
The 28-year-old was as sluggish as he has ever been, simply trying to avoid being taken to the ground by Minowa, who also beat another giant Bob Sapp in May.
``I think I have some problems,'' Choi said after the bout.
``Afterward, I will be able to talk (about them). I don't want to say anything now.''
Choi, a former folk wrestling (ssireum) champion, debuted in K-1 in 2005 and quickly stepped up as a top-echelon fighter in the organization, downing Sapp, who beat four-time Grand Prix winner Ernesto Hoost twice, and Semmy Schilt, the three-time champion.
But after Choi had a tumor on his pituitary gland removed in June 2008, he returned to the ring just three months after surgery much thinner ― 20 kilograms lighter ― which triggered concerns about his health.
After suffering three straight losses to Jerome Le Banner, Badr Hari and Ray Sefo in stand-up bouts, a disappointed FEG, the promoter of K-1 and DREAM, converted him into a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. The sport allows for grappling and attacking on the ground.
The switch hasn't worked out.
Since December 2008, he has had three MMA contests, winning only one.
He also fell to Fedor Emelianenko, arguably the world's best all-around fighter, in December 2007.
His the only victory came against retired baseball player and MMA debutant Jose Canseco with submission in the opening round of the Hulk Tournament ― a competition in which ironically the smaller opponents have ousted the larger ones.
With his limited talent and questionable work ethic, Choi, unlikely seen as a serious fighter in both stand-up and ground formats, is being pushed to fight celebrities in promotional events.
Alongside the Canseco match, Choi is reportedly to face NBA great Shaquille O'Neal of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to FanHouse, 2.16-meter O'Neal wants to fight Choi with the South Korean accepting, saying, ``Yes, if there is a chance.''