Instant classic: Masato - Mike Zambidis 2003 (VIDEO)

Today's throwback brings us 17 years back in time when the second annual K-1 World MAX tournament was held in 2003.

Eight of the finest middleweight kickboxers are fighting each other in Saitama, Japan.

Marfio Canoletti (Brasil), Albert Kraus (Netherlands), Duane Ludwig (USA), Sakeddaw Kiatputon (Thailand), Masato (Japan), Andy Souwer (Netherlands), Kozo Takeda (Japan), and Mike Zambidis (Greece) are the ones who make it to the quarter-finals.

The event takes place on July 5th in front of 15 000 spectators at the "Saitama Super Arena".

Unfortunately, the draw is not "fan-friendly" and two of the biggest favorites to win it all have to face each other in the opening round - the home crowd hero Masato and "Iron" Mike Zambidis.

This is the first time those two are sharing a ring and this will happen on one more occasion in their glorified careers in 2005.