Wins over the likes of Nieky Holzken, Yoshihiro Sato and Andy Souwer have marked Ukraine’s own Artur Kyshenko (56-11-1, 29 KO’s) out as a top kickboxing talent.
He is new to welterweight (77kgs/170lbs), having spent his career at lightweight (70kgs/154lbs). His welterweight debut came at GLORY 13 TOKYO when he outclassed Japan’s Ken Mun (24-6, 18 KO’s) to win a unanimous decision.
On Saturday, March 8 he will face #3-ranked welterweight Karapet Karapetyan (42-9-2, 4 KO’s) as part of GLORY SUPERFIGHT SERIES 14 in Zagreb, Croatia. A win will immediately insert Kyshenko’s name into the Welterweight World Title conversation.
“I am very glad that I am in GLORY and that I made a successful debut. He was a tricky opponent but the fight went well and I am pleased to have made a good start to my time in the welterweight division,” he says.
“Actually I am quite happy that the fight went the distance because I was in control and I was able to show off my skills a bit.”
Knockouts are a Kyshenko specialty and at his new weight he has added power. Fighting out of Mike’s Gym in Amsterdam - a team notorious for its emphasis on finishing fights - he is expecting to add more KO’s to his tally under the GLORY banner.
Karapetyan is a very tough opponent though. He has never lost by KO or TKO and it is rare to see him knocked down.
World #1 Nieky Holzken managed it in the GLORY 13 Welterweight Championship Tournament. Now Kyshenko is looking to go one step further.
“I would assess Karapetyan like this: GLORY is the best kickboxing league in the world and Karapetyan is ranked at number four in the GLORY welterweight division. So that says everything, I think,” says the Ukrainian.
“For sure he is not an easy opponent. He is tall so he has a lot of range, plus he is strong and tough. He has a good range of techniques as well. He is technical but I am better than him at everything so, unlucky for him.”
It isn’t only Karapetyan in Kyshenko’s sights either. Top contender ‘Bazooka Joe’ Valtellini of Canada is at #2, and Holzken’s #1 spot is where Kyshenko wants to be. From what he saw in Tokyo, he is confident he can get there.
“I’ve already beaten Nieky Holzken and in Tokyo he beat Valtellini by knockout. What do you think? Of course, I am confident I can beat them both,” he shouts.
“I came to GLORY to be the best and you’re going to see that this year: Artur Kyshenko, GLORY Welterweight Champion in 2014.”
GLORY SUPERFIGHT SERIES 14 takes place Saturday, March 8 in Zagreb, Croatia.
It features six fights between top contenders, rising stars and would-be champions as they seek to gain the ranking points which will propel them towards title shots and World Championship Tournament placement.
