On July 27th, 2024, the K-1 WORLD GP 2024 Openweight Western Europe Qualifier Tournament is back after a staggering 21 years, and it’s set to explode in the sun-soaked battleground of Sicily, Italy.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner of this titanic tournament will earn the ultimate prize: a spot in the ‘K-1 WORLD GP 2024 in Tokyo’ Final Tournament—an epic, 8-man openweight showdown on December 14 (Saturday) at the legendary Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.

The K-1 Bosnia Tournament openweight Eastern Europe Qualifier on June 30 was a whirlwind of upsets and shockers, with Serbia’s Miloš Cvjetićanin rising from the chaos to claim his ticket to Tokyo.

The last time that Italy saw K-1-sanctioned action was in 2008, but this marks the first K-1 world regional qualifier since 2003—a 21-year hiatus that is sure to end with a bang. Italy, the land the legendary Giorgio Petrosyan calls home, is ready to roar back into the global kickboxing spotlight.

Here are the electrifying matchups for the four quarterfinal battles in the Openweight Western Europe Qualifier Tournament:

K-1 WORLD GP 2024 Openweight Western Europe Qualifier Tournament,

Format:    [3 min x 3R, 1 extra R]

Quarterfinals Match
#1            Pavlos Kochliaridis (Greece/Politis Team) vs Rhys Brudenell (UK/Prizefighter)

#2            Marcell Horvath (Hungary/Team Rozman) vs Samuele Pugliese (Italy/Team Pugliese)

#3            Agatino La Rosa (Italy/Team Cutispoto) vs Florin Ivănoaie (Romania/M Box Timisoara)

#4            Konta Malang (France/Hammer Boxing Gym) vs Ali Badawi (Switzerland)

Don’t count out Pavlos Kochliaridis, a seven-time Greek kickboxing champion and 37-year-old veteran with 31 wins out of 40 fights. The reigning WKN heavyweight champ will collide with Rhys Brudenell, the MTGP & KGP world heavyweight champion from the UK, in a match that promises fireworks from the opening bell.

All eyes are on Italy’s own Samuele Pugliese, the 22-year-old phenom with an unblemished record of 11 wins. Towering at 198 cm and packing a devastating punch, Pugliese, the hometown hero, is poised to set the tournament ablaze. Facing him is Hungary’s Marcell Horvath, another 22-year-old giant standing at 2 meters tall with a flawless 4-0 record. Who will taste defeat for the first time?

Making his K-1 debut is Florin Ivănoaie, the Romanian powerhouse and reigning SENSHI heavyweight champion. With a resume that includes victories over the likes of Ștefan Lătescu and Ionut Iancu, Ivănoaie is no stranger to top-tier competition. Fresh off a decision win over Miroslav Vujović in SENSHI, Ivănoaie is a dark horse who just might shake things up during the tournament.

Then there’s the enigma from Switzerland, Ali Badawi. At 24 years old, standing 191 cm tall, and boasting a perfect 15-0 record, Badawi is a speed demon in the heavyweight division. His lightning-fast combos and dangerous high kicks are reminiscent of the legendary Peter Aerts in his prime. Handpicked by former K-1 MAX Japan champion Takayuki Kohiruimaki, Badawi comes highly recommended. “Speed, power, technique, and balance—Badawi has it all,” states Kohiruimaki. “He can unleash spectacular kicks like a Taekwondo master. I believe he can win it.”

Who will be crowned the Western Europe Qualifier Tournament champion? We won’t know until fight night, but one thing’s for sure—this is one tournament you don’t want to miss!

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