''K-1 World MAX 2002 World Tournament Final'' was a

kickboxing Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...

event promoted by the K-1 Organisation. It was the inaugural K-1 World MAX final for middleweight kickboxers (70 kg/154 lb weight class), consisting of eight finalists and two reserve fighters, with all bouts fought under K-1 rules. The tournament fighters had qualified via preliminary tournaments or had been invited due to their achievements in the world of kickboxing and Muay Thai (more information on the fighters is displayed by the bulleted list below). In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing seven countries. The tournament winner was

Albert Kraus Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus (born August 3, 1980) is a Dutch welterweight kickboxer. He was the first K-1 World MAX Tournament Champion in 2002 and also the first SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Champion. Kraus has also held four separate world ti ...

who defeated

Kaolan Kaovichit Kaolan Kaovichit ( th, เก้าล้าน เก้าวิชิต) born May 12, 1978, is a Thai former kickboxer. He was the runner up of K-1 World Max 2002. Biography Kaolan Kaovichit was born in Songkhla Province, Thailand on May ...

by first round

knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...

to become the first ever K-1 MAX champion. Of the two fighters, Kraus had the tougher path to the final having to had to beat

Shane Chapman Shane "Choppa" Chapman (born 4 July 1978) is a New Zealand super middleweight kickboxer and boxing, boxer, fighting out of City Lee Gar Gym in Auckland. He is the 2002 and 2004 List of K-1 champions, K-1 Oceania MAX champion and 4 time Muay Th ...

and home favourite

Masato Masato (written: , , , , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *Masato (kickboxer) (born 1979), Japanese former welterweight kickboxer, won K-1 WORLD MAX kickboxing tournament in 2003, 2008 * Masato ...

en route to the final. The event was held at the

Nippon Budokan The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally built for the inaugural Olympic judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics. While its primary purpose is to host martial arts con ...

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

on Saturday, 11 May 2002. Finalists *

- K-1 Oceania MAX 2001 champion, x2 Muay Thai world champion * Marino Deflorin - invitee, multiple Muay Thai world champion ( W.A.K.O. Pro, W.K.A., W.K.N., I.K.B.O.) *

- invitee,

Lumpinee Stadium Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ( th, สนามเวทีมวยลุมพินี) is a sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The stadium is named after Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern ...

finalist *

Takayuki Kohiruimaki is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer and karateka competing in K-1 MAX. His real name is Takayuki Kohiruimaki. He started calling himself Taishin Kohiruimaki in 2008. Biography Young age Taishin Kohiruimaki was born as Takayuki Kohiruimaki ...

- K-1 Japan MAX 2002 runner up, I.S.K.A. oriental rules super welterweight world champion '00 *

- invitee, W.K.A. world champion '01 *

Duane Ludwig Duane Paul Ludwig (born August 4, 1978) is an American mixed martial arts coach, retired professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Ludwig formerly held the unofficial fastest knockout record in the UFC after his win against Jonathan Gou ...

K-1 World MAX 2002 USA This is a list of events held and scheduled by the K-1, a kickboxing promotion based in Hong Kong. The first event, K-1 Sanctuary I, took place on March 30, 1993 at Kōrakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. 2023 events 2022 events 2021 events ...

champion, x2 I.K.F. U.S.A. national Muay Thai amateur champion *

- K-1 Japan MAX 2002 champion, I.S.K.A. oriental rules welterweight world champion '00, A.J.K.F welterweight champion '99 * Zhang Jiapo - invitee, Sanda fighter Reservists * Ohno 崇 - K-1 Japan MAX 2002 3rd place, I.S.K.A. Muay Thai middleweight world champion * Changpuak Weerasaklek - invitee,

Rajadamnern Stadium Rajadamnern Stadium ( th, สนามมวยราชดำเนิน; ), also spelled ''Ratchadamnoen'', is a sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Along with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Rajadamnern is one of the two main stadiums for modern mu ...

finalist

K-1 World MAX 2002 World Tournament Final

Results

References

External links

K-1 Official WebsiteK-1sport.de - Your Source for Everything K-1
{{2002 K-1 Events K-1 MAX events 2002 in kickboxing Kickboxing in Japan Sports competitions in Tokyo

K-1 World MAX 2002 World Tournament Final

Results

See also

References

External links