Playback ’04] Akebono and Bob Sapp, who have just moved to “K-1”, are the underdogs before the “Fight of the Century”.

What did “FRIDAY” report 10, 20, and 30 years ago? In “Playback Friday,” we take a look back at the topics that were popular at the time. In this issue, we will report on “Akebono’s K-1 Challenge: ‘Old Knee Injury’ and ‘Cat Punches,'” which appeared 20 years ago in the January 2, 2004 issue of FRIDAY.

Akebono (34 at the time), a former yokozuna who was a good opponent of Wakataka in the 1990s, suddenly announced his entry into K-1 on November 6, 2003. Akebono was inundated with media coverage on a daily basis, attracting even more attention than when he was a yokozuna. This magazine covered his training at the time.

In just one month, he has become more like a fighter.

He was so full of confidence.

Blood tastes good.

I can’t say too much, but there will be big fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

I’m going to kill Sapp!

I want to fight Tyson next.”

One month after announcing his participation in K-1, the former Yokozuna, Akebono, has become more “like” himself. Akebono has been training hard day in and day out.

Akebono has been training hard day after day. However, he was not prepared for the challenge of kickboxing, which he was not accustomed to, in addition to the three-year blank since his retirement. There were also concerns about “old injuries from the past. The article goes on to say the following

The photo was taken during a public sparring session, but is it just this magazine that can’t help but smile? The gym also has members of the general public, and during practice, an old lady asked, “Are you sure you are okay with such a limp-wristed punch? One of the reporters from a martial arts magazine was also worried about him.

A reporter for a martial arts magazine was also concerned.

It is a well-known fact that Akebono is carrying bombs in both knees. The damage to the left meniscus in particular has not healed, and once he fell down, he would not have been able to get back up by himself. Akebono says he had a hard time in the sumo crouching posture, but he is fine in the standing posture.