K-1 World Max 2024: Super Bantamweight Tournament Excitement
Kickboxing Fans Eagerly Await K-1’s Super Bantamweight Tournament at World Max 2024
Excitement is building in the kickboxing community as K-1 has announced a highly anticipated tournament in the Super Bantamweight (55 KG) division, set to commence at the K-1 World Max 2024 event on July 7th. Unlike the previous Super Bantamweight tournament, this edition will feature a split format, with the second round scheduled for September.
Headlining the tournament is divisional king Akihiro Kaneko, a durable and powerful fighter with increasingly sharp technique. Kaneko’s last outing was a wide decision victory over Masahiko Suzuki, in which he scored two knockdowns to avenge his previous professional loss. Kaneko’s seven-fight win streak and key victories over some of the division’s elite have propelled him into the pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in April 2024.
“Kaneko’s seven-fight win streak and key victories over some of the division’s elite have propelled him into the pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in April 2024.”
Kaneko’s chief rival, Masashi Kumura, will also be competing in the tournament. The two have faced off three times, with Kaneko leading the series 2:1. Their last bout in September 2023 was a fierce contest that won Beyond Kickboxing’s Fight of the Year, requiring an extension round for the judges to declare a winner.
Joining the star-studded lineup are Riamu, the current Krush 55 KG champion with two successful title defenses, and Rui Okubo, who has won two straight since his last loss, a majority decision to Ryunosuke Saito in June 2023.
The remaining four participants in the tournament are yet to be announced, but K-1 is expected to add a mix of international fighters to the competition, in keeping with the organization’s tradition.
Kickboxing enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the action-packed tournament, as the division’s top talents battle it out for the coveted Super Bantamweight title. The split format promises to heighten the suspense, with fight fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in September.
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