Badr Hari Expects to Fight in K-1 World Grand Prix, Says Mike Passenier; Bonjasky Wants to be K-1 Champ Again

Rumors and speculation as to what will become of Badr Hari after this weekend's It's Showtime event have been swirling around, mostly due to Badr Hari's statement that was released after the event. The statement claimed that he would take some time off from fighting to re-evaluate himself and why he fights, try to get his head in order, etc. This led many to believe that Badr Hari would withdraw from the K-1 World Grand Prix, with the Final 16 coming in September. Apparently this is not at all the case.

According to Jens Habermann of K-1sport.de, he spoke with Badr Hari's coach and manager, Mike Passenier after the event and the few month layoff was always planned for Badr Hari. Seeing as though Badr Hari does not have to qualify for the K-1 World Grand Prix anymore, the chances of him fighting over the summer were very slim, anyway. Passenier said that the plan was for Badr Hari to take a break after the Amsterdam ArenA show to rest up for the K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16 in September. So, either due to poor translation or deception, Badr hari is not taking a self-imposed sabbatical to collect his thoughts as much as he will do as he did last year; fight in the ArenA in May, then in K-1's Final 16 in September.

So it looks like, much like last summer, Badr Hari will spend his summer in Morrocco.

It should also be noted that Habermann spoke with Remy Bonjasky, who expressed that he of course wanted to become K-1 World Grand Prix champion again, and is looking to actually fight soon. I guess it is still a very big 'wait and see' situation with Bonjasky.

Who knows, maybe we will get to see Badr Hari and Remy Bonjasky tangle one last time.