Badr Hari vs. Ernesto Hoost Cancelled, Manhoef vs. Spong Confirmed

According to one of my favorite K-1 blogs on the Internet, K1 Legend, a press conference to announce a potential "legendary" bout between four-time retired K-1 World Champion Ernesto Hoost and K-1's bad boy Badr Hari has been cancelled. The bout was called off after Ernesto Hoost... thought about it:

We planned to announce that none other than Ernesto Hoost would enter the ring one more time, to face Badr Hari, and this match deserved the label "Legendary".

However, today Ernesto Hoost informed us of his withdrawal, because he thinks he doesn’t have a reasonable chance against the – to Ernesto’s opinion – best fighter in the world.
Ernesto Hoost regrets he has to return to the subject of facing Badr Hari, but he thinks this is better than putting up a fight on May 29 which would be disappointing both for him as for the audience.

We at European Fighting Network are very sorry, of course, but we can understand Ernesto’s decision after his explanation.

In the beginning of November we will announce our matchmaking almost completely, but as a salve for the wounded feelings we will already announce one fight for May 29 2010 in the Amsterdam ArenA, which is: Melvin Manhoef vs Tyrone Spong for the IT’S SHOWTIME World Title 95+. This fight, which the fans have been waiting for for a long time, is finally about to happen!

Melvin Manhoef will knockout... I mean, take on Tyrone Spong for the It's Showtime World Title at 95+ kg. It's a solid match-up as Manhoef did have a down year, but Spong had an even worse year. As K1 Legend points out, Spong is training under Ernesto Hoost now, but Manhoef actually looked better in a third bout with Remy Bonjasky at the K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16. It should be a real war.