Krush 70 KG. Tournament Wraps Up July 16th, Event Poster Released

Through the first half of 2011, Japanese kickboxing promotion Krush has done considerable work in establishing the next generation of domestic kickboxing talent. Krush has also been busy crowning champions in a number of divisions through eight-man tournaments.

Thus far, the promotion has seen Shota Takiya shock Shootboxing favorite Ryuya Kusakabe to take the 55 kg. crown, Hirotaka Urabe dominate a final to win at 60 kg., and Ryuji Kajiwara defy a much younger field of competitors to stand atop 63 kg.

Krush's 70 kg. division will receive a champion, perhaps in similar fashion, on July 16th.

Early tournament favorite Hiroki Nakajima will meet NJKF veteran Kenta in the first semifinal bout of the evening, while the upstart Shintaro Matsukura will square off against Yutaro Yamauchi in the other.

A final between Nakajima and Matsukura is anticipated, and the July 16th event should serve as a solid preview of the K-1 MAX Japan tournament planned for some time later this year. Both Hiroki Nakajima and Shintaro Matsukura have been announced as competitors for that tournament, as have fellow Krush competitor Yuya Yamamoto, K-1 MAX veteran Yuichiro Nagashima, Yasuhiro Kido, and Go Yokoyama.

The July event will also feature Hirotaka Urabe squaring off against a Chinese Muay Thai champion and a number of other non-tournament bouts.