GLORY 8 Tokyo: Superstars Align For Featherweight Slam Kickboxing Tournament On May 3
Kevin Ross, Abdellah Ezbiri, Mosab Amrani, Marcos Vinicius and Road To GLORY Japan winner slated for action in eight-man, single-elimination tournament
GLORY, the world’s new premier kickboxing league, will return to Tokyo, Japan with a one-night, eight-man, single-elimination ‘Slam’ tournament featuring a collection of the brightest stars in the featherweight (65 kilograms/143 pounds) division, at Ariake Coliseum on Friday, May 3.
American superstar Kevin “El Pr! esidente” Ross (37-9, 12 KOs) of Dublin, Calif. will make his highly-anticipated GLORY debut in the tournament field where he will be faced with an assembly of cutthroat competition in three-time French kickboxing champion Abdellah Ezbiri (32-6, 11 KOs) of Morocco via France, world Muay Thai champion Mosab “The Jaguar” Amrani (48-7-4, 14 KOs) of Holland and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil reality series contestant and KO artist Marcos Vinicius (MMA Record: 20-4-1, 7 KOs) of Curitiba, Brazil.
Joining the first four elite fighters thus far confirmed for the tournament that will award its competitors with a total of $180,000 in prize money, including $100,000 to the winner, will be the victor of the inaugural, eight-man, development series ROAD TO GLORY Japan tournament at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Sunday, March 10, as well as three additional competitors to be announce! d soon.
“With the fighter selection process for the GLORY 8 Tokyo featherweight Slam tournament underway, we are assembling what could very well be the most competitive tournament field in the history of kickboxing’s featherweight division,” said GLORY Sports International Managing Director Marcus Luer. “We are bringing together the best possible group of talent from all parts of the wo! rld in order to determine who the reigning king of this division is.”
Ross, the 2010 Muay Thai North American Fighter of the Year, is widely recognized as the face of kickboxing in the U.S. During his stellar career, the 32-year-old technician has faced and defeated a host of top-ranked rivals, including decorated Thai champions Malaipet “The Diamond” Sasiprapa and “Coke” Chunhawat.
The 25-year-old Ezbiri has made waves both in his native Europe as well as in Japan where he was the winner of another eight-man tournament in 2011 and finished as runner-up after a controversial decision loss in the championship stage of a 67 kilogram/148 pound tournament at the hands of Japanese phenom Yuta Kubo on Jan. 14.
Amrani, a 25-year-old, former intercontinental Muay Thai champion, rose to power after stopping Thai champ! ions Anuwat Kaewsamrit and Bovy Sor Udomson in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Amrani also boasts a victory over Moroccan southpaw phenom Ibrahim Chiahou. His tournament start marks a drop in weight after a stint at 70 kilograms/154 pounds.
Vinicius has gained widespread acclaim for his power since earning ‘KO of the Night’ honors at UFC 147 where he decimated Wagner Campos with a barrage of punches and knee strikes in the third round of their matchup on June 23, 2012. During his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Vinicius trained under legend Wanderlei Silva.
