K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth, K-1 Reignites Its American Legacy

On Saturday, July 26, K-1 (owned and operated by M-1 Sports Media KK) returns to American soil with K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth, a grassroots launch co-produced with regional partner Husky Fat Promotions and local promoter Fighting Words Promotions. Held at the historic Will Rogers Memorial Center, the event marks not only a showcase of rising talent, but the quiet spark of a larger movement.
 

K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth will feature a card of emerging talent from across the South and Southwest. Under official K-1 rules, the event will showcase a range of fighters, from those making their amateur debuts to seasoned veterans of the kickboxing ring, each hoping to earn their place on the world stage.
 

Event Details:

• Event: K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth
• Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
• Venue: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX
• Presented by: K-1 (M-1 Sports Media K.K.) & Husky Fat Promotions

Tickets: https://www.stubwire.com/e/35984/texasvstheworld/willrogerscoliseum/

From Grassroots to Glory
While the K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth starts at a local level, its vision reaches far: with hopes to grow into regional circuits, national qualifiers, and ultimately, a path for American fighters that leads back to the K-1 World Grand Prix, where global legends are forged.

On the future of K-1 in America
“America is a land of possibilities,” said Mitsuru Miyata, K-1 Producer. “And we believe it is not only possible that kickboxing stands alongside the world’s most iconic combat sports, but inevitable. As a global platform, K-1 is always searching for the brightest talent on Earth, and we’re excited to see what stars rise from the U.S. to light the way forward.”



“Kickboxing has deep American roots,” said Scott Jones, CEO of Husky Fat. “While the world has been under the spell of MMA for a while, we feel it’s high time to bring this amazing sport back to center stage, to shine once again. Partnering with K-1 lets us do that with integrity, heritage, and vision.”


“The K-1 Challenge gives U.S. fighters a shot at something bigger,” said Steven Wright, founder of Fighting Words Promotions. "The undercard pits top Texas amateurs against challengers from across the country, themed ‘Texas vs. The World.’ The main card highlights rising pros we believe could follow in the footsteps of legends like Carter Williams, Maurice Smith and Jeff “The Jet” Rufus, top American talent who’ve proved themselves in the K-1 ring.”

A Partnership Aligned
This new series builds on the success of Road to Tokyo, a prior collaboration between K-1 and Husky Fat, on March 8, 2025, that helped American fighters earn global recognition. Now, with K-1 Challenge: Fort Worth, that relationship deepens, setting the stage for a long-term effort to reawaken the American kickboxing spirit.