K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1 organization. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday,December 6, 2003 in front of 67,320 spectators. It was the eleventh K-1 World Grand Prix final involving ten of the world's best fighters (two being reservists). The eight finalists had almost all qualified via preliminary events, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters (for more detail on this see bulleted list below), with all bouts being fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). As well as tournament bouts there was also an 'Opening Fight' between Yusuke Fujimoto and Matthias Riccio and a 'Super Fight' between Martin Holm and Jan Nortje, both fought under K-1 Rules. In total there were fourteen fighters at the event, representing ten countries.
The considered favourite leading in was Stefan "Blitz" Leko, who was on a five-fight K-1 win streak throughout 2003, and had beaten Peter Aerts, Mike Bernardo and Francisco Filho leading up to the World Grand Prix. However, due to contractual disputes that arose prior to the tournament final, Leko was pulled out of the competition and replaced by former boxer Francois Botha. It would be a man who had previously lost to Leko that won the Grand Prix.
The tournament winner was Remy Bonjasky who defeated Musashi in the final by third round unanimous decision. Both fighters would be making their first ever K-1 World Grand Prix final appearance, with Remy Bonjasky winning on his first visit to the finals.
Qualifiers - Finalists
- Cyril Abidi - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
- Peter Aerts- Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
- Remy Bonjasky- Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
- Francois Botha - Invitee, replaced Stefan Leko who had a contractual dispute
- Peter Graham - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
- Alexey Ignashov - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
- Musashi - K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final winner
- Ray Sefo - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination
Qualifiers - Reservists
- Bjorn Bregy - Invitee
- Carter Williams - Invitee
Read more about K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final: K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Tournament, Results, Trivia
Famous quotes containing the words world, grand and/or final:
“However, no two people see the external world in exactly the same way. To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is—in other words, not a thing, but a think.”
—Penelope Fitzgerald (b. 1916)
“Well! If the Bard was weather-wise, who made
The grand old ballad of Sir Patrick Spence,”
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834)
“Remember the waterfront shack with the sign FRESH FISH SOLD HERE. Of course it’s fresh, we’re on the ocean. Of course it’s for sale, we’re not giving it away. Of course it’s here, otherwise the sign would be someplace else. The final sign: FISH.”
—Peggy Noonan (b. 1950)