1993 - Branko Cikatić
1994 - Peter Aerts
1995 - Peter Aerts
1996 - Andy Hug
1997 - Ernesto Hoost
1998 - Peter Aerts
1999 - Ernesto Hoost
2000 - Ernesto Hoost
2001 - Mark Hunt
2002 - Ernesto Hoost
2003 - Remy Bonjasky
2004 - Remy Bonjasky
2005 - Semmy Schilt
2006 - Semmy Schilt
K-1 MAX World GP champions to date

2002 - Albert Kraus
2003 - Masato
2004 - Buakaw Por Pramuk
2005 - Andy Souwer
2006 - Buakaw Por Pramuk
Other notable K-1 fighters

Mirko Cro-Cop Filipović
Gary Goodridge
Alexey Ignashov
Jérôme Le Banner
Stefan Leko
Michael McDonald
Musashi
Rick Roufus
Ray Sefo
Choi Hong-man
Ruslan Karaev
Glaube Feitosa
Kaoklai Kaennorsing
Francisco Filho
Chalid "Die Faust" Arrab
Björn Breggy

Traditional boxing stars at the K-1 tournament

Late in 2003, Bob Sapp challenged Mike Tyson, the former world Heavyweight boxing champion, to a K-1 fight. While Tyson did not accept the offer immediately, he signed with K-1 to be his official Japanese representation on August 23, 2003.[1] A deal to actually fight in K-1 never materialized. In early 2006 another rumour of the re-schedule of this match in August 2006 has been released by the press and had been confirmed by Bob Sapp in an interview. For that reason he also turned down the role for the upcoming movie Bloodsport 2. [2]. Later in August 2006, Mike Tyson appeared at a press conference held by rival organization Pride Fighting Championships, and Dream Stage Entertainment, Pride's parent company, has confirmed that Tyson has signed with Pride, though his status with the company remains unknown.

Others who have made the transition from traditional boxers to K-1 fighters include:

Francois Botha (former IBF World Heavyweight champion).
Shannon Briggs (former Heavyweight, who beat George Foreman and then lost to Lennox Lewis when given a shot at the WBC World Heavyweight championship).
Ray Mercer (former WBO World Heavyweight champion)
Vince "Cool" Phillips (former IBF world Light-Welterweight champion)
Eric Butterbean Esch (former IBA World super-heavyweight champion) -
Mike Bernardo former W.B.F. World Heavyweight champion

Other fighters derived from various sports

Sean O'Haire (former WWE/WCW wrestler)
Bob Sapp (former NFL player)
Akebono Taro (former Sumo wrestler)
Sylvester "The Predator" Terkay (WWE wrestler)
Tom "Green Beret" Howard (former WWE/UPW/NWA wrestler)
Nobuaki Kakuda
Kazushi Sakuraba (Kingdom Pro Wrestling, UWFi, PRIDE Fighting Championships)
Brock Lesnar (former WWE wrestler)
Sinbi Taewoong Muay Thai fighter

Fighters temporarily contracted to K-1

Bobby Ologun - unranked
Royce Gracie - unranked

K-1 World Grand Prix dates and venues

Event Date Country
K-1 World Grand Prix 1993
March 04, 1993
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1994
April 30, 1994
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1995
May 04, 1995
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1996
May 06, 1996
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1997
November 09, 1997
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1998
December 13, 1998
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 1999
December 05, 1999
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2000
December 10, 2000
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2001
December 8, 2001
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2002
December 07, 2002
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2003
December 06, 2003
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2004
December 04, 2004
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2005
November 19, 2005
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2006
December 2, 2006
Japan

K-1 World Grand Prix 2007
2007
Japan