The tenth anniversary of the K-1 World Grand Prix took place in 2002.
Eight of the finest kickboxers from all over the world are gathered together under one ceiling in Tokyo, Japan, to produce the new Grand Prix champion.
Mark Hunt, Jerome Le Banner, Ray Sefo, Peter Aerts, Bob Sapp, Ernesto Hoost, Stefan Leko, and the home crowd favorite Musashi are the ones who made it to the quarterfinals.
Netherland’s Ernesto Hoost and France’s Jerome Le Banner are the two fighters that made it to the final. “Mr. Perfect” makes it to the final round, even though he loses two times in a row by Bob Sapp. Fortunately for him, Semmy Schilt is unable to face Sapp in the quarterfinals due to injury.
Once again, Sapp defeats Hoost in the 1/4-final, but Bob breaks his arm and withdraws from the semis, replaced by Ernesto Hoost. The semifinals produce two battles between Ernesto Hoost vs. Ray Sefo and Jerome Le Banner vs. Mark Hunt.
Hoost and Banner’s final is the fifth time those two are fighting each other in their pro careers, with the result being tied two a piece. The Dutch have the experience by his side as he prepares for his 4th final. The 29-year-old French is fighting for the second time in a WGP final.
Seventy-five thousand fight fans are on their feet inside ‘Tokyo Dome,” watching in awe the historic fight between two of the biggest legends in the game.
