The K-1 JAPAN GROUP has announced that Taito Gunji and Masashi Kumura's contracts with the promotion officially ended as of April 30, 2025.
Taito Gunji made his mark in K-1 after debuting in Krush in 2015, quickly rising through the ranks to win the K-1 featherweight (-57.5 kg) championship in 2021. His impressive 13-fight winning streak and title reign came to an end with a loss to Takumi Terada last year, which also marked his final fight under the K-1 banner.
The 26-year-old expressed his gratitude on social media: "As of April 30, my contract with K-1 has ended. I am grateful for everything I’ve learned here. I will now challenge myself on a new stage. Please look forward to the announcement of my next fight." He also added, "By the way, my contract with the gym is still in place, so I’m not entirely free yet, but this marks a turning point."
Masashi Kumura, former Krush champion best known for his trilogy against the reigning K-1 super bantamweight (-55 kg) champion Akihiro Kaneko, shared: "As of April 30, 2025, my contract with K-1 has fully expired. K-1 holds many special memories for me, and I truly consider it an important organization. Now, I will leave K-1 for a while to pursue my strength and compete on the stage I seek. Please look forward to the second chapter of Masashi Kumura."
As two more high-profile names exit the promotion, following in the footsteps of other notable departures like Takeru, Masaaki Noiri, and Yuki Yoza, fans and spectators are left wondering what the future holds for K-1.
