K-1 MAX Madrid Show This Weekend

Last Updated on Monday, 10 January 2011 22:55 Wednesday, 05 January 2011 22:38

Written by Fraser Coffeen

Here's a show announcement that kind of snuck up out of nowhere - this weekend in Madrid, Spain will be a regional K-1 MAX show.  The show is being put on by K-1 MAX Madrid, and will feature a traditional 8 man tournament.  These kind of regional events are not out of the ordinary for K-1, who brand many smaller, local shows as K-1 shows.  While these shows are affiliated with K-1, they are typically not a part of the official K-1 season - meaning don't expect mention of this event on the K-1 website, or for the tournament winner to automatically enter the GP Final 16.

The biggest name in the tournament is definitely Warren Stevelmans.  A K-1 MAX veteran who won the MAX 2008 Netherlands tournament, Stevelmans has been in there with the division's very best, including Andy Souwer, Giorgio Petrosyan, and Albert Kraus among many others.  He fights often, and almost always against tough competition, so his record only stands at 4-5 in the last 2 years, but those loses all come against tough opposition.  I would consider him the favorite in this field.

Stevelmans's toughest challenger here is likely Rachid Belaini, who comes in off a huge win over the top 25 ranked Khem Sitsonpeenong at It's Showtime in September.  If Belaini can keep that momentum going, he can definitely win this event and use that victory as the start of a big 2011.

Also in the tournament are WBC champion Alex Asumu; Hassan Ait Bassou, a good fighter making the move up to 70kg from his normal 63kg weight; Jonay Risco; Manzy Pauwels, a Muay Thai fighter who won a similar regional tournament in 2009; Rafa Del Toro; and Rafi Zohueir, a Muay Thai fighter who was slated to represent Spain on the ill-fated The Contender Asia Season 2.

Share this story