Reason why the proposed Sakuraba and Tamura fight didn't happen

[FieldingMellish]

This week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter talked about this issue.

Now, it's well known that Sakuraba and Tamura both started out as shoot-style pro wrestlers in the old UWF-I. That past history was part of the reason DSE have wanted to set this fight up for years. What's less well known is the actual relationship between the two in those days. Although the two are the same age (35) Tamura was one of the promotion's stars, a level below the likes of regular main eventers like Nobuhiko Takada and Kazuo Yamazaki but still very important. Sakuraba on the other hand was just one of a number of 'young boys' working their way up from the bottom. His contemporaries in that position included Hiromitsu Kanehara and Yoshihiro Takayama by the way.

Within Japanese pro wrestling it's very common for the stars to bully and physically abuse the 'young boys' and Tamura did this to Sakuraba all the time. Either Tamura went too far or Sakuraba just holds a grudge for a long time as there is still a lot of bad blood between to this day.

It was Tamura who yet again refused the Sakuraba fight. Now, I'm speculating here but perhaps he simply didn't want to risk losing to somebody he used to bully or perhaps he just doesn't want to accept Sakuraba has surpassed him so much since those days.

Still, this does explain why this match, which could have been a HUGE draw just a couple of years ago, and still a big one today, has never come off.

The Observer also reported that DSE offered Tamura a fight with Mark Hunt instead and he's currently considering it.

[( o Y o )]

Tamura lost a bit of my respect last year after refusing Saku, only to agree to fight Ronny Sefo....a great kickboxer and damned hard puncher, with no MMA fights to his name and only a week or so`s notice for the fight.

I like Tam`s style, but not always his choices, though I think he gets off on the weird "mystery" he seems to try and surround himself with.

[FieldingMellish]

I know what you mean. Tamura was always my favourite in UWF-I, and my favourite RINGS pro wrestler/fighter. Hell, I even put a substantial amount of money (well, for me anyway) on him to beat Yoshida in the 2003 MW GP.

But I'm disappointed he's turned down the Sakuraba fight on more than one occasion and then he turns round and fights people like Bob Sapp and now possibly, Mark Hunt in matches he has no realistic chance of winning because of ridiculous size differences.

[( o Y o )]

Put like that it really is strange. Perhaps he hates saku that much he doesn`t even want to give him the chance of evening the score so to speak.

Hell, a 10 second loss to Sapp is more embarrassing than an epic battle against Saku IMO.

[FieldingMellish]

Exactly. And even though Sakuraba is the more skilled fighter he's just so badly beaten up these days I'd probably pick Tamura to beat him. It's the best chance he'd ever have to 'prove' he was better than Sakuraba all along by beating him in what would realistically be the main event on the biggest Pride show of the year.

Maybe it's one of those things where Sakuraba's success since his UWF-I days has spooked Tamura and he's afraid of the chickens coming home to roost, of Sakuraba beating and humiliating him? Look at Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. It was pretty obvious all along that Tito knew Chuck could beat him so he stalled and stalled and stalled until eventually he had no choice but to fight him. And he lost. Tamura's in a different position though. He can just stall and stall until one of, or both, he and Sakuraba retire.

[( o Y o )]

You are correct, Tamu holds all the eggs....he just doesn`t seem to have any in this case ;-)

As you say though....the strangest part is with Saku`s recent form, Tamura really would be considered the favourite by those that really know them both. He is in better condition and far less injured.

Perhas his loss to Yoshida took away his will for risk...

[FieldingMellish]

Well, his Yoshida loss certainly took away my will to put money on sentimental favourites!

[( o Y o )]

too true. Though at that stage I`d have put $$ on Yoshida just to spite the moronic haters! lol

[FieldingMellish]

I just couldn't ignore it as those odds though. Tamura was a ridiculous underdog with thegreek.com and while I knew Yoshida was the real deal (of course I didn't realise quite how much until that fight with Silva) I just couldn't resist.

Ah well, I'm sure I'm sensible enough to have learned my lesson now.

Still, wonder what Sakuraba's odds are for NYE?

[( o Y o )]

Dunno, but I`m not sure I`d risk the bet.

I think I`ll get my Aussie account hooked up to place some bets with mmabets.com though for sure.....though I would have lost a bucketload had I sorted it out before the K-1 GP. lol

[Kamatari]

Tamura's always been hard to work with, he's got his own agenda and is very crafty in the way he arranges things. I think they can possibly secure Tamura as Sakuraba's retirement fight (if Silva doesn't retire him before that). If he KO's Saku, he might as well go on and KO Kanehara as well (who stated retirement is not an option right now) - UWFi killer!

On the other hand Tamura vs. Minowa 2 would be awesome (Tamura was cornering Ueyama and Minowa brought the pro-wrestling antics with him). Anyone who saw the first one will agree. Haven't heard about a potential fight with Hunt yet. Though I see him taking that one as well.

[FieldingMellish]

( o Y o):
If I'm going to make any long shot bets I don't think I'll be starting with Sakuraba-Silva. LOL.

Kamatari:
I would LOVE to see those two fight. Then again, this is Tamura so who knows, maybe he'd turn it down and take a fight with Tom Erickson or Aleksander Emilianenko instead. Also, I find it hilarious the way Minowa does all the pro wrestling type stuff when he's never even had a traditional worked pro wrestling match in his life.

I'm not really that convinced Tamura will even fight agian to be honest. Admittedly his U-Style promotion has looked on the verge of collapse for months but I he'd actually make a decent amount of money if he just worked a few shows for a more traditional pro wrestling company like New Japan, All Japan (both of whom are particularly desparate for big name talent right now) or NOAH. Tamura has nver done traditional style pro wrestling so it would create alot of fresh match-ups and a decnt amount of interest. But a quick beating from Hunt would hurt any such plans. We'll just have to wait and see.

[killlah]

this is wery good thread, with great infos, and a lot of news for me

thanx