On January 18th, 2005, Character Product would release their second volume
of Pro-Kaku Heroes entitled "Vol. 2. K-1 Fighters Edition".
The individual Vol. 2. Blind Box & 15 pack Hobby Box.
Just like Vol. 1.5.'s repaint series, Vol. 2. would consist of 18 standard
figures plus 1 secret figure and, like Vol. 1. were released in a limited
edition of 180,000 Blind Boxes total. The figures in Vol. 2. are:
"The biggest KO of this thousand years", Mr. "golden left" himself,
Jerome Le Banner [B] entrance attire and [A] ring attire.
Banner's cape is very well designed with gold paint and animal print
designs along the front of the cape. Overall, I've always liked the
overall sculpt of this Mini Big Head.
Banner's left arm is intentionally exposed to pay homage to his famous
fight over Francisco Filho where Banner knocked Filho out in the first
round with a single left punch.
"Mr. Perfect" (all apologies to Curt Henning) K-1 Champion Ernesto
Hoost is next up in the form of two Mini Big Head variants.
Ernesto Hoost [B] variant features Ernesto with blue and white trunks
in his famous low spin-kick pose and a gold painted K-1 Grand Prix
Champion Laurel.
The Ernesto Hoost [A] Mini Big Head (ring attire version) depicts
Hoost in his patented Axe Kick pose along with black and blue trunks.
K-1's prominent multi-promotional Muay Thai Kickboxer: Masato
"Silverwolf" Kobayashi.
Both Masato variants sport the rarely-used gold foil paint design on
Masato's hair. The [A] (ring attire) variant includes Masato's Team
Silverwolf logo written on the back of his trunks as well as including
traditional Muay Thai arm straps on Masato's biceps.
Don't forget about the detail on Masato's left ankle design.
Easily the most recognizable face on this list is cross-promotional star
Bob "The Beast" Sapp.
The Bob Sapp [A] (ring attire) Mini Big Head features an exclusive
sculpt of Sapp ready to perform a Three Point Tackle - a nod to Sapp's
Pre-Wrestling caeer as a Pro-Football player for the Chicago Bears and
Minnesota Vikings.
Bob Sapp [B] includes Sapp's entrance cape painted in a silver and
white design.
The back of the Bob Sapp [B] Mini Big Head includes pegs on the
backs of Sapp's arms which can connect or remove Sapp's entrance
cape.
Another difference between both variants are the designs used on the
backs of both variant's trunks. The ring attire version includes a generic
cross while the entrance version includes Sapp's nickname "THE BEAST".
The only other Mini Big Head to feature a removable cape accessory
is Mimi Hagiwara from Pro-Kaku Heroes Vol. 8.
In total, there were only 5 figures in the entire Mini Big Head series
to include removable accessories making this Bob Sapp Mini Big
Head extra special and a clear indication of Sapp's impact on the
Puroresu scene at the time.
Continuing the Gaijin portion of the Vol. 2. roster are Cyril "Marseille
Bad Boy" Abidi and the late Mike Bernardo.
Both are painted in blue corner boxing gloves with white and blue
coloring along their ring trunks.
Cyril Abidi earned his fame in the K-1 fight scene from his multiple
fights against Peter Aerts - the last of which is considered one of the
greatest fights in K-1 history.
Japanese fight fans will recognize this next Mini Big Head as none
other than 4 time K-1 tournament Champion Musashi.
Musashi's [B] variant features a standard Karate Gi with black belt
and traditional strong stance Karate pose.
The [A] Musashi variant references Musashi's K-1 ring attire with
black trunks with a white stripe design on the sides and red corner
boxing gloves.
Some of the hardest figures in the Vol. 2. set comes in the form of
Belorussian "The Red Scorpion" Alexey Ignashov, "The Flying
Gentleman" Remy Bonjansky and "The Dutch Lumberjack"
Peter Aerts.
Pro-Wrestling fans might recognize Alexey from his famous 14
second MMA victory over (then) 45 year old legend "Dr. Death"
Steve Williams.
Both Alexey and Remy are sculpted in rising knee attacks (which is
how Remy earned his nickname "The Flying Gentleman") while
Peter is sculpted in the standard Pro-Kaku kick pose.
If you look closely, you'll see a small red peg supporting the Remy
Bonjansky Mini Big Head; making Remy's pose the most complicated
to create ( and hardest to stand up properly) to date.
Again, the likenesses of each figure is truly spot-on.
The last of the regular roster: Nobuaku Kakuda [A] and [B] along
with 8-time K-1 Grand Prix champ, Samoan Kickboxer Ray Sefo.
While Nobuaku Kakuda is primarily known for his in-ring work,
the Kakuda [A] Mini Big Head references Kakuda's role as a K-1
referee (making Kakuda one of only two referees available in the
entire Pro-Kaku line along Vol. 8.'s "Secret" Shiro Abe Mini Big
Head).
The Nobuaku Kakuda [B] Mini Big Head presents Kakuda in his
Karate ring attire in a fist thrust pose.
Ray Sefo comes in his early 2000's K-1 ring attire and is another
very hard figure to come across.
The secret figure of Vol. 2. is former K-1 President and producer
Sadaharu Tanikawa complete with Microphone in hand - ready
to announce the match.
Pro-Kaku enthusiasts should note that Tanikawa is one of only two
"Secret" Mini Big Heads (along Vol. 8's Shiro Abe) not to be based
on an actual Wrestler.
Closing thoughts:
Character Product did a fine job of capturing K-1's top talent of the
era with the company's first full-fledged foray into the world of
Mixed Martial Arts.
To reiterate a post comment made on Vol. 6's Pancrase fighters Yuki
Kondo and Sanae Kikuta, I truly feel there's a lot of potential to
follow up with a legendary shoot fighters volume (as the legend
volumes have proven the most successful overall).
More rarities to come!
