Krush Adds 58kg, 67kg Weight Classes

Monday, 15 October 2012 14:01

Written by Sam Sattler

Krush has just announced that, as of Krush.24 on November 10th, they will be introducing two new weight classes at -58kg and -67kg. The -58kg class is a compromise between Featherweight (57.15kg) and Super Featherweight (59kg) while -67kg is essentially the same as the Welterweight limit (66.68kg). Hopefully, Krush will be looking to really showcase these new weight classes in this year's last 3 events and there is plenty of talent to be showcased.

While most Super Featherweights have already moved up to the Krush-standard 60kg limit, 58kg will likely bring in Japan's top Featherweights, which has become one of their more talented division. At the top of the division stands Genji Umeno who just lost a 61kg fight in K-1 to Chang-hyun Lee, but prior to that was ranked at Lumpinee Stadium and held the WPMF Japan title. It is hard to know if he will continue to fight with K-1 or if Krush will be able to put him on some of their future cards, which would certainly be a big plus for Krush. Just below him is undefeated Hiroki Akimoto who is fresh off of a win over the nearly equally talented Yosuke Morii. Other top fighters include NJKF champ Heihachi Nakajima, Daiki Nagashima, Yuji Umehara, Yasukai Koyama, Masato Sato and the RISE Featherweight Tournament finalists Ryo Pegasus and Ittao.

67kg doesn't quite have the depth of Krush's other weight classes, but it is the home of standouts Yuya Yamato, who holds the WBC Japan title and T-98, who holds the WPMF Japan title, as well as prospect Masato Otake and veteran Soichiro Miyakoshi. It also allows for fighters at 65kg to move up instead of drain themselves to drop to 63kg, opening the door for fighters like Yukihiro Komiya, RISE 65kg champ Koji Yoshimoto, Yusuke Sugawara and Yasuomi Soda. 

Hopefully with these new weight classes will also come 8 or even 16-man tournaments and maybe even a Featherweight class for the Youth Tournament. 

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