K-1’s first event of the year might be an early contender for the "Event of the Year" award, with a number of current and former champions in action on February 9.
Super Bantamweight champion and two-time Grand Prix winner Akihiro Kaneko will make his third title defense against the Greek-born Manolis Kallistis. While kickboxing fans are well acquainted with the power-punching pound-for-pound ranked Kaneko, most will likely remember Kalistis for his decision loss to the great Tenshin Nasukawa nearly a decade ago, or perhaps for his last year’s unsuccessful appearance at the ONE Friday Fights. Suffice to say, Kaneko will enter the fight as an overwhelming favorite to retain the belt.
Newly crowned K-1 featherweight champion Takumi Terada will face Takahito Niimi, the only man to have beaten Terada as a professional so far, in his maiden title defense. While many expected the titlist to face Taito Gunji in a rematch, considering the close nature of their first meeting, the promotion has instead given the beltholder a chance to avenge his sole loss. All the same, it should prove to be an exciting affair for the viewers, as their first fights was as action packed as it could possibly have been. Both fighters are in good form and should provide another spectacle.
The third title fight will see another newly crowned champion, Yodkhunpon, make his inaugural defense against Hayato Suzuki. A strange choice of opponent no doubt: Suzuki was eliminated in the quarterfinals of last year’s Grand Prix which saw Yodkhunpon crowned as champion, unlike Shu Inagaki who reached the finals and gave the Thai a difficult fight. Still, K-1’s super lightweight division has always provided surprises, so we shouldn’t discount an experienced fighter like Suzuki.
The last major bit of news K-1 producer Mitsuru Miyata announced was the four-woman atomweight tournament, held after former champion Miyuu Sugawara announced her retirement from the sport. At the moment of writing, only one participant is known, Krush atomweight champion Kira Matsutani. The remaining three participants will be non-Japanese and announced at a later date.
