Simeon Thoresen back in the UK
Having only started out kickboxing at 17 years of age Simeon Thoresen has seen his career progress at a brisk speed. The 25 year old Norwegian nick named “The Grin” raced to a 9-0 record with all bar one of his victory’s coming via submission. With all forms of pro fighting outlawed in his native Norway Simeon has been forced to live a life on the road: “Fighting in England, Sweden or Denmark is ok; when it comes to Japan and America that can be stressful.” Simeon’s last outing on UK soil involved the Norwegian recording what he believes is his finest win to date over solid UK competitor Matt Thorpe: “My best win would have to be Matt Thorpe for sure, he is the highest ranked.” Not only did Thoresen beat Thorpe he dispatched with him in under a minute. His 9th win in a row over such a respected opponent in Thorpe meant that Thoresen was propelled onto the world stage meeting experienced Japanese fighter Eiji Ishikawa on Japans “Deep” promotion. Ishikawa would inflict Thoresen’s first loss in a fight the Norwegian sorely regrets: “That would be my worst fight, although I learnt some things I was just so disappointed. He used his wrestling very well and didn’t engage, it was a very boring fight for everybody”. It’s an old cliché in the fight game that you learn more from a loss than a win but Simeon’s disappointment in his Deep performance has meant a change in focus with Team Hellboy and coach Joachim Hansen: “For the last 6 months I’ve been working my wrestling very hard, its coming along well.”
With his grappling background and recent focus on wrestling it would be easy to assume for any prospective opponent that Thoresen’s striking would be the avenue to exploit. Keen to improve however the Norwegian has embarked on a journey into amateur boxing to supplement his training: “It's very different, I’ve had 8 bouts some have been very hard.” Thoresen’s laid back approach doesn’t do justice to his exploits with him defeating the number 2 ranked amateur boxer at his weight in Norway and narrowly losing a decision to the number 1 ranked fighter. Thoresen’s recent loss in Japan and some sterling work from the Pain and Glory promotion have meant that UK fans will again get the chance to see a fighter surely destined to return to the world stage. Kicking off at 6pm 24th May at the York Hall Bethnal Green, Pain and Glory’s event will host a 4 man 80 kilogram catch weight tournament with Thoresen taking on Chris Rice in his opening bout. Although he knows little of his opponent Thoresen feels well prepared for the tournament structure: “It's always best to know something but I will come out and fight to my plan; as far as a prediction ill fight hard to win. I will try to finish my fights as early as possible.”
With The Network Agency managing to secure the Norwegian another fight in the UK does he feel any disappointment that legal issues mean the UK has been his fighting home rather than Norway? “No not really, I come to the UK because that’s where the fights are. In Norway people don’t know about it, it’s not even a sport. I’m comfortable over here even if I’m not a home fighter.” Thoresen has a previous tournament victory on his record having despatched 2 opponents via submission in Denmark last year. As far as a message for his upcoming tournament opponents “I’m coming”
David Lethaby
www.cagewarriors.com
