In a recent interview with Tomasz Sarara, the former K-1 champion Ernesto “Mr. Perfect” Hoost confirmed that he had accepted an offer from Japan to fight before the end of the year.
Ernesto Hoost is a renowned Dutch kick-boxer and four-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion. At 15, he began practicing combat sports and won his first title in October 1987, when he became the Dutch-Thai boxing champion. Shortly after, He became professional in 1988 and won world titles in Thai boxing, savate, and kickboxing. Today, he continues to share his expertise as a coach for aspiring fighters and an engaging commentator for combat sports events.
Ernesto Hoost is generally considered to be among the greatest strikers of all time. While he lacked the sheer physicality of other heavyweights, he was able to succeed through his superior speed, accuracy, devastating combinations, and tactical brilliance. His nickname “Mr. Perfect” stemmed from his ability to throw complex combinations with almost machine-like technical precision. Hoost’s most feared strike was his signature low kick, which he utilized at the end of his combinations to cripple his opponent throughout a match. He finished the top competition, such as Ray Sefo, Mirko Cro Cop, and Igor Vovchanchyn, by using the low kick. Hoost also enjoyed a countering solid game and had high defensive acumen. This allowed him to survive when more powerful fighters attempted to brawl, although this notably failed (twice) against the 350-pound Bob Sapp.
Titles
2014 WKO World Heavyweight Champion
2002 K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 champion in Tokyo, Japan
2001 K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Melbourne champion in Melbourne, Australia
2000 K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 champion in Tokyo, Japan
2000 K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Nagoya runner-up in Nagoya, Japan
1999 K-1 Grand Prix ’99 final round champion in Tokyo, Japan
1997 K-1 Grand Prix ’97 Final champion in Tokyo, Japan
1994 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World champion in Marseilles, France
1994 K-2 Plus Tournament 1994 champion in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
1993 K-2 Grand Prix ’93 champion in Tokyo, Japan
1993 W.M.T.A. & W.K.A. Light Heavyweight World champion in Tokyo, Japan
1993 K-1 Grand Prix ’93 runner-up in Tokyo, Japan
1992 W.M.T.A. Muay Thai World Champion -79.8 kg in the Netherlands
1990 WMTA Muay Thai World Champion -79.8 kg in Amsterdam, Netherlands
1990 W.K.A. World Kickboxing champion in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
1989 W.M.T.A. Muay Thai World Champion in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
1989 Savate World Champion in Paris, France
1988 W.K.A. European Kickboxing champion in Strasbourg, France
1988 Savate European champion in Strasbourg, France
1988 I.S.K.A. European Full Contact champion in Le Havre, France
1988 I.S.K.A. European Muay Thai Champion in Arnhem, the Netherlands
1987 WMTB Dutch Muay Thai Champion in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2004 Full-Contact Fighter of the Year, by Black Belt Magazine
