Bachelor Janosch goes for the Andy kick

For the first time in over a decade, a K-1 world championship fight in the light heavyweight division will take place in Switzerland on June 10, 2017 at 7 pm. On the occasion of the "Andy Hug K-1 Memorial", ex-bachelor Janosch Nietlispach and Andy Hug's former favorite student Petar Majstorović will compete in the ring at the Bossard Arena in Zug.

It's May 6, 1996: Andy Hug, then 31 years old, is at the peak of his career. The trained butcher from Wohlen (AG) has just won the "K-1 World Grand Prix" final in Yokohama, Japan. The martial artist has long been a star in Asia. His face adorns countless merchandising articles. Advertising with him brings the desired attention to the sponsors. But just four years later, Hug is dead. He lost his most important fight against the insidious disease leukemia, and Switzerland lost arguably its greatest martial artist of all time.

His early death made Andy Hug a legend

Hug's early death made him a legend: Because his life story was anything but simple. In retrospect, it is so touching that it can undoubtedly be described as a Japanese dishwasher's career. Hug and his two siblings grew up with their grandparents in Wohlen. His father, who was in the Foreign Legion and whom he never saw, died young. In this country, he lived "on the edge". He grew up in the poorest of circumstances, sometimes without hot water, and was known as a petty thief and bully, so that he often only just managed to make it out of the corner. He played football in his youth. He was even talented, but what really fascinated him and where he was at least one step ahead of everyone else was martial arts: he won tournaments at an early age. As a 19-year-old, he contested his first fight at a world championship in 1983 and successfully completed his butcher's apprenticeship. It was clear that sport kept the tall Hug on the right track.

Ten years later, in 1993, Andy Hug's career as a karateka experienced a decisive turning point: he became a K-1 fighter. The new martial art invented in Japan combines elements of karate, kung fu and kickboxing and seems to be tailor-made for Hug and his skills. Because from now on, Hug has something over all his opponents: his "Andy Kick"!