March 7th, 2004
K-1 Kickboxing hosted its K-1 K'FESTA show live from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The show featured the Lightweight World GP one-night tournament to crown the first ever K-1 World Lightweight champion, as well as first round matchups of the K-1 Heavyweight world GP.
At the start of the show, Shane Campbell of Australia, considered among the favorites, easily took care of Koji Yoshimoto with a nasty right hook right on the button in the second round, while Mongolian Jadamba Naratugulang beat Genki Yamamoto by unanimous decision. On the other side of the bracket, american Duane Ludwig knocked out Turk Serkan Yilmaz with a beautiful roundhouse kick to the liver in the 2nd round, while Satrou Kobayashi pulled off the upset by TKOing Kaoklai Kaovichit in the 3rd and final round to the approval of the yokohama crowd.
Two heavywight GP first round matches were up next to give the lightweight GP competitors a break. First off, a tactical bout between Brazilian Francisco Filho and german Stefan Leko wasn't the most exciting bout, but the German outboxed his opponent with crisp jabs and thunderous low kicks to win it by unanimous decision. In the second match, it was the opposite, for Jerome le Banner and Yosuke "Bun-Bun Maru" Fujimoto delivered an epic slugfest where both guys traded bombs at each other. Fujimoto rocked Le Banner many times in the first round, but the frenchman regained his composure and pummeled Fujimoto with crisp and powerful shots until the referee stopped the fight in the 2nd round.
In the Lightweighf semi-finals, Shane Campbell had a tougher tine than expected against Jadamba Naratugulang, but the australian still managed to grab tbe UD win after 3 rounds of crisp, skillful kickboxing. Then, in the 2nd semi-finals, Satoru Kobayashi started strong, getting some nice, clean kicks on Duane Ludwig, but the american managed to knock the young japanese fighter out in the 2nd with a big overhand left counter right on the temple.
In another heavyweight GP 1st round match, Kyokushin Karateka Glaube Feitosa took on Japan's Tsuyoshi Nakasako. Feitosa eluded Nakasako with his head movement and his signature Brazilian Kick, but somehow, Nakasako manGed to score big strikes on Feitosa, using ring cutting movements to trap the brazilian into corners. In the third round, a big combination by Nakasako sent Feitosa on the canvas for a crucial knockdown, which would prove the difference as Nakasako wins by una imous decision to go to the quarter-finals!
Finally, the semi main event, the Lightweight GP final to crown the first ever K-1 world lightweight champion. Shane Campbell tried to outbox Duane Ludwig, but the american's kicks on the australian's legs would prove fruitful, for the american would score big headshots on Campbell, taking advantage of his weakened legs to hit a knee strike that sent the Australian crashing on the mat in the 3rd round!
And just like that, Duane Ludwig is K-1Lightweight champion of the world! It is an upset, too, for he was considered only the 4th favorite of the tournament! This is gonna give K-1 promoters Fighting and Entertainement group some very promising potential to break into the american market with an americna champion.
In the main event, it is a dream match between the gentle giant Semmy Schilt agaisnt 4-time K-1 World GP winner Ernesto Hoost in the latter's final K-1 Grand Prix participation. Hoost showcased his technical excellence in the early goings, but the younger, larger and crisper Schilt took over in the 2nd and 3rd round to expose Hoost's declining skills and grab the unanimous decision win to advance to the Quarter-Finals.
after the match, a retirement ceremony took place for Ernesto Hoost. The living legend said his final goodbyes to the japanese crowd and received a hug from Semmy Schilt as he waved good bye to the world of kickboxing.
K-1's next show is K-1 ROMANEX 2004, on May 22nd at Saitama Super Arena, featuring K-1 Light Heavyweight GP matchups as well as the K-1 Welterweight GP featuring an all-star field with fighters like 2002 MAX champion Albert Kraus, Andy Souwer, Mike Zambidis, Masato and Thailand ace Buakaw Por Pramuk.
K-1 Kickboxing hosted its K-1 K'FESTA show live from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The show featured the Lightweight World GP one-night tournament to crown the first ever K-1 World Lightweight champion, as well as first round matchups of the K-1 Heavyweight world GP.
At the start of the show, Shane Campbell of Australia, considered among the favorites, easily took care of Koji Yoshimoto with a nasty right hook right on the button in the second round, while Mongolian Jadamba Naratugulang beat Genki Yamamoto by unanimous decision. On the other side of the bracket, american Duane Ludwig knocked out Turk Serkan Yilmaz with a beautiful roundhouse kick to the liver in the 2nd round, while Satrou Kobayashi pulled off the upset by TKOing Kaoklai Kaovichit in the 3rd and final round to the approval of the yokohama crowd.
Two heavywight GP first round matches were up next to give the lightweight GP competitors a break. First off, a tactical bout between Brazilian Francisco Filho and german Stefan Leko wasn't the most exciting bout, but the German outboxed his opponent with crisp jabs and thunderous low kicks to win it by unanimous decision. In the second match, it was the opposite, for Jerome le Banner and Yosuke "Bun-Bun Maru" Fujimoto delivered an epic slugfest where both guys traded bombs at each other. Fujimoto rocked Le Banner many times in the first round, but the frenchman regained his composure and pummeled Fujimoto with crisp and powerful shots until the referee stopped the fight in the 2nd round.
In the Lightweighf semi-finals, Shane Campbell had a tougher tine than expected against Jadamba Naratugulang, but the australian still managed to grab tbe UD win after 3 rounds of crisp, skillful kickboxing. Then, in the 2nd semi-finals, Satoru Kobayashi started strong, getting some nice, clean kicks on Duane Ludwig, but the american managed to knock the young japanese fighter out in the 2nd with a big overhand left counter right on the temple.
In another heavyweight GP 1st round match, Kyokushin Karateka Glaube Feitosa took on Japan's Tsuyoshi Nakasako. Feitosa eluded Nakasako with his head movement and his signature Brazilian Kick, but somehow, Nakasako manGed to score big strikes on Feitosa, using ring cutting movements to trap the brazilian into corners. In the third round, a big combination by Nakasako sent Feitosa on the canvas for a crucial knockdown, which would prove the difference as Nakasako wins by una imous decision to go to the quarter-finals!
Finally, the semi main event, the Lightweight GP final to crown the first ever K-1 world lightweight champion. Shane Campbell tried to outbox Duane Ludwig, but the american's kicks on the australian's legs would prove fruitful, for the american would score big headshots on Campbell, taking advantage of his weakened legs to hit a knee strike that sent the Australian crashing on the mat in the 3rd round!
And just like that, Duane Ludwig is K-1Lightweight champion of the world! It is an upset, too, for he was considered only the 4th favorite of the tournament! This is gonna give K-1 promoters Fighting and Entertainement group some very promising potential to break into the american market with an americna champion.
In the main event, it is a dream match between the gentle giant Semmy Schilt agaisnt 4-time K-1 World GP winner Ernesto Hoost in the latter's final K-1 Grand Prix participation. Hoost showcased his technical excellence in the early goings, but the younger, larger and crisper Schilt took over in the 2nd and 3rd round to expose Hoost's declining skills and grab the unanimous decision win to advance to the Quarter-Finals.
after the match, a retirement ceremony took place for Ernesto Hoost. The living legend said his final goodbyes to the japanese crowd and received a hug from Semmy Schilt as he waved good bye to the world of kickboxing.
K-1's next show is K-1 ROMANEX 2004, on May 22nd at Saitama Super Arena, featuring K-1 Light Heavyweight GP matchups as well as the K-1 Welterweight GP featuring an all-star field with fighters like 2002 MAX champion Albert Kraus, Andy Souwer, Mike Zambidis, Masato and Thailand ace Buakaw Por Pramuk.
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