Interviews
Interviews
Ray 'Sugarfoot' Sefo
From 'Ray Sefo Interview' - 1998
In the past year, MuayThai has really come into its own. With the success of the K-1 USA event, which uses modified MuayThai rules not allowing elbow attacks, during the beginning of August in Las Vegas, the sport is finally back on course and making great strides for recognition on the North American continent. In this issue I interview my friend Ray 'Sugarfoot' Sefo about K-1 and himself.
MM: Howdy Ray! I guess the first thing I want to ask you about is your nickname 'Sugarfoot'. How did you get that name?
RS: Ha ha ha! Because 'Sugar' Ray Leonard has always been one of my favorite boxers. That was just at the time when I had started Kickboxing. Then with my name being Ray, my girlfriend put it together. One night during class while training and concentrating on kicking skills, I was kicking faster than the lighter weights and that was how the 'foot' part was added in. About six months later I heard that there was actually another 'Sugarfoot', Peter Cunningham.
MM: What is your fight record as it stands right now?
RS: I have 25 fights with 23 Wins and 2 Losses with 18 KOs. My last fight in Japan against England's Matt Skelton had me win the first round, score an even second round and then in the third, my shin was cut open and the fight had to be stopped. They unfortunately awarded the bout to Skelton.
MM: I was told you started off as a boxer.
RS: No, I actually started off in Kung Fu. I trained for about 5 years before I did any type of competition. It's funny because when I first started the Martial Arts it never crossed my mind to compete. I trained for the love of it. While watching Martial Arts movies, I saw the actors doing spinning back kicks and thought if they could do it so could I. Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were my favorite actors at the time.
MM: How long have you been involved in the Martial Arts?
RS: 12 to 13 years now. I started casually while I was still in school. It was not until 1993 that I really got serious about it, though I started fighting in the ring in 1989.
MM: Did you start your career with a lot of bouts?
RS: No. The first year I only had one fight, the second year I had two fights, and the same with the third until I decided to become more serious.
MM: Which has been you busiest year?
RS: It is hard to think about. The busiest year would have to be when I started at the K-1 in Japan. I had 5 fights last year. This year I have already had 3 fights. I stopped a French fighter to win a world title. Then I also fought Francisco Filho. I think, and so does everyone else, that I should have won the fight. It went the distance and I just thought that I am not a judge. I butt out and let other people do their job. I watched the video later on, and agreed that I should have won the fight.
MM: Strangely enough, you do not carry yourself like a heavyweight. You look a lot smaller. Your titles are all under the Cruiserweight division, so how are you beefing up in weight?
RS: In shape I used to sit around 93 kilos. When I started with my current trainer, he already had a heavyweight. The next weight down was in the Cruiserweight division, so my coach had me dieting down and fighting at that weight. I even went down as low as a Lightheavyweight. I fought the former world champion from Thailand, Prasert at 78 kilos! That is the lowest I have ever been. It was really tough losing weight like that. I stayed off red meat completely and ate rice and chicken. In order to come back up in weight I started eating red meat three times a week and started weight training again which naturally pulled my weight back up.
MM: You have signed with the K-1 for the next two years, have you not?
RS: Yes. Myself, Andy Hug, Maurice Smith, Peter Aerts who is now managed by the K-1 and no longer with the Chakuriki school or Thom Harinck. Quite a few of us have actually been offered the same contract. Both Ernesto Hoost and I were offered the same contract last month. Actually, I am in the process of finishing up my contract with the K-1 by the end of this year and we are interested in the new contract but have to come up with an agreement.
MM: Who has been your toughest opponent so far?
RS: It is really hard to say. When I fought Ernesto Hoost, obviously I do not want to make excuses, but I went into that fight injured and maybe 50% prepared for it; you know, problems at home, and that is a thing a lot of fighters do go through. That was my first loss. I put that fight down to experience and I think it did more good for me having to lose that fight and then bounce right back from it. Before that bout, Ernesto was knocked out by Jerome LeBanner. When I came up against Jerome I knocked him out in the first round. I think this bout was good for me because it put the hunger back in me. I had been winning up until then, and did not know anything else other than winning. When I lost that bout, it made me hungry and very focused to win again. Matt Skelton from England was tough because he is 118 kilos. and in the second round of our fight he just leaned on me and used his weight. It is really hard for me to say who was the hardest fight.
MM: Let's talk about the K-1. It is starting to take off in North America. Let's talk about the fighters in general and get your opinion. What do you think the strong points and weak points are of Ernesto Hoost?
RS: Ernesto is a gentleman and 99% of the fighters who participate in the K-1 are gentlemen. He is a complete fighter and a very technical fighter. He is a strong fighter who has the advantage of being tall as well. When he is on his game he is very hard to beat. I do not see too many weaknesses in Ernesto's game.
MM: Andy Hug from Switzerland?
RS: He is a different fighter because he is smaller and lighter like me. He has to move a lot when he comes up against fighter like Ernesto or Peter Aerts. He is a strong fighter. When I first saw Andy fight I thought he was all right. But in the last two or three years, his fight game has changed dramatically.
MM: Peter Aerts from Holland?
RS: He is a machine. He is just a walk forward fighter. Andy Hug beat him in the Grand Prix, and I think he won this bout because he kept changing angles on Peter. Peter will just come to destroy you. If you change angles on him and make him miss a few he will get frustrated.
MM: Mike Bernardo from South Africa?
RS: Bernardo is just a big man with a big punch. Again, Bernardo is just another one that I thought was all right even before I went to the K-1. Since I have been involved in the last year or two, he has changed and he has become a leg kicker, he is changing his angles, he has improved a lot. I mean I guess we all do in that league. I mean you have to I figure.
MM: Francisco Filho from Brazil?
RS: I fought him last month. He is a strong, strong fighter. He has admitted himself that he needs to work on his punching technique. He is a strong kicker but right now I think he is a counter fighter with good timing. When Andy Hug fought him, Andy went in and was hit with a forearm punch and was out cold. He did the same to Sam Greco. Everybody expected Filho to knock me out, but I fought him and counterpunched him.
MM: Lets talk about some of the fighter who are closer to you. Stan Longinidis from Australia?
RS: I have never fought him, and he is still involved with the K-1, but I do not know if he will ever fight again because he has had some knee surgery. If he is going to fight in the K-1, then obviously somewhere along the line I will meet him. For me it would be an honor to fight Stan, because he has been around awhile. He has been a World Champion for a long time.
MM: Sam Greco from Australia?
RS: That bout will definitely come about.
MM: I am surprised you guys have not met in the ring considering how much closer you guys are geographically?
RS: New Zealand has seen the sport grow, but it is still not financially strong. There is no sponsorship to promote an event that would be able to pay the money these guys want.
MM: North American athletes. Have you fought anybody from North America?
RS: Yes in my first World Title fight. I fought Rob Martin from Washington. I fought Jean Claude Leuyer for the WKBA Superheavyweight World Title and beat him. It was a real tough fight for me because Jean Claude and I became good buddies in the K-1, and when we were matched up we both really did not want to fight that fight. But when you are in the ring there is nothing much you can really do except fight. I fought Canada's Mike McDonald. It lasted three rounds and I was defending my world title.
MM: McDonald has now added weight and is fighting in the K-1. I know he is training with Andy Hug. McDonald is notorious for having a bad chin.
RS: He won his first fight against Mike Bernardo's brother in the last K-1.
MM: What do you think of Maurice Smith?
RS: He is looking very rusty. He had a draw with Masaaki Satake and that was a real surprise. He has had a draw with Jean Claude, and he lost again to Ernesto Hoost in the American K-1. Maurice is a very big name, but he has not been busy enough in the ring. Too much No Holds Barred competition. He has now signed a contract for the K-1 and eventually we are going to meet as well. In my opinion, I felt that Jean Claude would have beaten him. Jean Claude is much stronger.
MM: I agree, but he is also a lot slower.
RS: Yes, I keep telling Jean Claude to quit concentrating so much on his weights. He can punch, but like you say he is very slow.
MM: What do you think about Rick Roufus changing and now fighting with leg kicks?
RS: I was impressed with his hand skills, but when I saw him fight Jerome LeBanner, it was obvious he does not know how to deal with leg kicks.
MM: That was Rick's second leg kick bout. Rick was destroyed by Thailand's Chuengpuek Kiatsongrit in his first leg kick bout.
RS: That explains it. Rick can punch because he hit LeBanner so hard, had he not had the ropes behind him, he would have hit the ditch. He is awkward being a southpaw, and he punches from all angles. He was supposed to fight in Japan a few months back, but was replaced by America's Curtis Schuster because Rick was diagnosed with diabetes.
MM: Who have you fought from Europe?
RS: I have fought England's Kirkwood Walker. I also fought England's Lee 'The Butcher' Swaney. And of course Matt Skelton.
MM: Who have you fought from Thailand?
RS: Prasert, Samart and Singdong. I actually fought them all over here; two in Chinam, and one in Hong Kong. I won two by knockout, and Samart went the distance. In defense of the Thais, they were all significantly smaller in weight.
MM: Besides the K-1, what are your other ambitions?
RS: I act and model. My goal at home is to lift the image of Kickboxing in New Zealand. I would also like to bring more international world champions to my country. Obviously my goal is to win the Grand Prix. Deep down, I know I can do it. All of the fighters in the K-1 have the ability to do it, as anyone can have an on-night or an off-night.
MM: Would you do a No Holds Barred fight.
RS: Definitely. I know a little about grappling, I would have to spend a year learning how to be more proficient at it. It is pointless to go in without knowing what you are doing. Kickboxing is more popular in New Zealand. I do not think NHB bouts will take off there.
MM: How much longer do you see yourself fighting for?
RS: I am 28 years old, still a young fighter. I do not drink, smoke or do drugs. Mentally, I feel 28 years old, mature in the fight game. Physically I feel like I am 22 years old. I figure at least another 5 or 6 years. Thanks for taking the time to do the interview Mike!
