K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1 organization. It took place, on July 5, 2003 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It was the second ever K-1 MAX final tournament for middleweight kickboxers (-70 kg/-154lb) The tournament fighters had qualified via preliminary tournaments, had been involved in the previous years final, or had been invited due to their achievements in kickboxing and Muay Thai
Tournament Finalists:
Sakeddaw Kiatputon - invitee, Rajadamnern Stadium champion
Albert Kraus - reigning K-1 World MAX 2002 champion, W.K.A. world champion '01
Marfio Canoletti - K-1 MAX Brazil 2002 champion, W.K.N. Brazil Muay Thai champion
Kozo Takeda - K-1 MAX Japan 2003 runner up, former Rajadamnern Stadium champion
Andy Souwer - S-Cup 2002 champion, multiple Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion
Masato - I.S.K.A. oriental rules welterweight world champion '00, A.J.K.F welterweight champion '99
Mike Zambidis - K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 champion, multiple world champion (Kings of the Ring, W.O.K.A)
Duane Ludwig - invitee K-1 MAX USA 2002 champion, I.K.F. U.S.A. national Muay Thai amateur champion
K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan (7/5/03)
8 Man Tournament:
Mike Zambidis vs Masato
Marfio Canoletti vs Sakeddaw Kiatputon
Duane Ludwig vs Kozo Takeda
Albert Kraus vs Andy Souwer
This was a very entertaining event, five of the seven tournament fights, ended with a KO/TKO!
I had Zambidis winning that fight 2-1 easily. Masato put on a great performance but did very little damage. Every single strike that Mike landed was landed with power and authority where Masato's were more pointed and had far less impact.
Also, the knockout in the first round was more of a slip than anything... but even counting that against Zambidis, I still had him up 2-1 at the end.
Ah well. Still a great fight. And I don't say any of this to take anything away from Masato. He's a great in his own right.
^ That was definitely a slip and the ref wasn't even going to score it a knockdown, then did
But regardless, I agree with you, Zambidis should've won the fight. I thought he won the 2nd and 3rd pretty handily
Masato is a one of the greatest -160lb kickboxers ever and I don't wan't to take anything away from him either but like we all know the Japanese really wanted/want a champion of their own and I think that influenced even the judging sometimes and I believe it did in this fight
Subd for later. 
That was a great tourney, funny how the next five or so years were dominated by Buakaw and Souwer.
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