DOETS DENIES DISRESPECT AFTER MUNYUA WIN

KEVIN DOETS has refuted talk he disrespected David Munyua at the Ally Pally.

The Dutch star ended the fairytale of the Kenyan vet by hammering him out of the Paddy Power World Championship.

Munyua’s incredible victory over Mike De Decker in the first round made him an instant hero in his homeland.

William Samoei Ruto, the President, posted a message of support for the nation’s newest sporting star and ambassador Dr Joseph Warui from the Kenyan High Commission was in the crowd for the clash against Doets.

In the end, the favourite was far too good for the African and he moved to quell talk of disrespect following the game.

After his first-round success, Doets was asked about playing unproven Munyua as opposed to former Grand Prix champion De Decker and described it as a “dream draw.”

But he’s adamant that came out the wrong way and made it crystal clear he did mean to offend or play down his opponent’s talent prior to the match.

Doets explained: “That was not smart. I never meant any disrespect to David. I’m a Top 40 player and, when you are a Top 40 player, you are a great player. When you get David Munyua or Mike De Decker, you are hoping for David Munyua because he is someone who has not played on this stage before and Mike has won a major.

“Against Mike, I wouldn’t have been a favourite. Against David, I was. I didn’t mean to sound cocky. I maybe sounded a bit cocky, but it’s not what I meant.

“I just meant I am a Top 40 player and this was his first World Championship. I back myself against someone who hasn’t played here before. I apologise to anyone to anyone if I made them upset with what I said.

“I didn’t meet David before this game, but I saw him backstage before the game and he was very talkative. Just a very nice guy and I told him I respect what you have done for your country. It’s the first time someone from Kenya goes this far and it is a sensation, a phenomenon.”

Munyua had all the crowd backing, but Doets said: “The first set, I was expecting a lot of booing and whistling. But the noise they made was something I didn’t expect. It was like standing next to an aeroplane. It made me lose a bit of focus. But after the first set, I went into routine.

“It’s not easy to play with 3000 people against you. The only time I have been booed is against Ricardo Pietrezcko in Germany. It was expected. I was prepared for it. Of course, everyone wants the crowd to back them, but I just felt confident.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.