http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/05/26/2009-05-26_jose_canseco_former_bash_brother_gets_bashed.htmlThe fight was fast and painless, at least for the viewers who stayed up to watch it.
In his first foray into Mixed Martial Arts, Jose Canseco was pummeled by a 7-2, 330-pound grand champion of sumo, Hong Man Choi of South Korea, during a MMA show earlier Tuesday at Yokohama Arena in Japan.The admitted steroid user and whistle-blower entered the ring hauling a baseball bat over his right shoulder and was accompanied by his girlfriend and publicist, Heidi Northcott, who tossed baseballs into the crowd as they slowly descended a ramp toward the ring. Canseco, 44, would have been wise to use the club against his opponent.
While Choi is a respected kick-boxer and sumo wrestler, Canseco's only achievement in the ring is that he once fought to a draw in a celebrity boxing match with former child star Danny Bonaduce.
Blinking nervously to start the first round, which was scheduled for ten minutes, as per Pride Fighting Championship rules, Canseco was immediately sent flying to the ropes by a jab.
At that point, Canseco, wearing black tights, must have felt it was better to run than fight because he took to scurrying around the ring, doing his best to avoid contact.
That tactic didn't work well either, because a minute into the bout, Canseco appeared to twist his right knee and he quickly grabbed at it while hobbling around. When Choi attempted to corner him, Canseco tried a leg kick, leaving himself vulnerable and the sumo wrestler collapsed on him, driving him to the ground face-first, and pummeling the back of Canseco's head.
After a few seconds, the referee dove in to pull Choi off Canseco, who rested on the canvas, looking more exhausted than hurt. The bout was stopped at 8:42 of the first round of what is being billed as the "Super Hulk Tournament," as part of the sport's Dream 9 card.
In a bizarre gesture, Choi then lifted Canseco to his feet and deposited him on the canvas and the two embraced, both looking content, Canseco, that he wasn't killed, and Choi because he just evened his record in MMA to 2-2.
The fight was televised on HDNet at 5 AM this morning in New York. The show will be replayed on Friday at 10 PM ET and Saturday at 2:30 PM. Canseco's bout was the second of the card, and started promptly at 5:15 AM and ended just as quickly.
At the press conference on Monday, the Japanese media reportedly laughed derisively at Canseco when he was introduced.
"I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm scared," Canseco said Monday at the press conference, according to reports. "This guy is huge. I'm a 44-year-old rookie and have had a lot of challenges in my baseball career and hopefully, I can do well tomorrow."
As for Canseco's motivation to put himself in harms way, Damon Feldman, the promoter and creator of the Celebrity Boxing Federation, where Canseco has fought twice, chuckled.
"Where else can you make fast money like this?" Feldman said.
Canseco, whose home was foreclosed last July, was arrested for trying to smuggle an illegal female fertility drug from Mexico in October. He has shown himself to be practically immune to embarrassment when it comes to making a buck.Last July, the former slugger and American League MVP was knocked out in a round by former Philadelphia Eagle Vai Sikahema in a celebrity boxing match. Canseco reportedly received $35,000 for that bout.
Canseco is also tentatively scheduled to fight a celebrity boxing match on July 24, maybe in Atlantic City against 6-4, 300-pound Bill Simmons, known as the "Wingador," for his ability to eat chicken wings, Feldman said.
The 6-4, 252-pound Canseco was supposed to fight on a celebrity boxing card on June 27 but pulled out because of the MMA show in Japan. Feldman also said that Canseco's twin brother, Ozzie, might also compete on the July 24th card.
"I wouldn't recommend what (Canseco) is doing, fighting in Japan," Feldman said on Monday. "But Jose doesn't care. He fights anyone I put in front of him. I just hope that he doesn't get knocked out."
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