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Branko Cikatic 1954-2020 the first K1 Grand Prix champion in Tokyo 1993
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11213/1/Branko-Cikatic--1954-2020-the-first-K1-Grand-Prix-champion-in-Tokyo-1993.html
By Nenad N. Bach and Darko Žubrinić
Published on 03/28/2020
 

Branko Cikatić (1954-2020) was distinguished Croatian fighter, who was the winner of the first K1 Grand Prix Tournament in Tokyo in 1993 (in the finals against Ernest Hoost). At that time, he was at the age of 38, and is till these days the oldest winner of the K1 tournament. He was the winner of in various combat sports for thirteen times. In kick-boxing, he was the World Champion in 1981. He started his career in Solin, and then continued in his native city of Split. In 1989, the German journal Karate Budo Magazine decorated him with the Golden Glove, and proclaimed him to be the most popular combat sportsman in the world, in front of Chuck Norris i Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Thirteen times world champion in varios disciplines of martial sports


Branko Cikatić, winner of the first K1 Grand Prix Tournament in Tokyo, 1993.
His height is 1m 89 cm.


Branko Cikatić (1954-2020) was distinguished Croatian fighter, who was the winner of the first K1 Grand Prix Tournament in Tokyo in 1993 (in the finals against Ernest Hoost). At that time, he was at the age of 38, and is till these days the oldest winner of the K1 tournament. He was the winner of in various combat sports for thirteen times. In kick-boxing, he was the World Champion in 1981. He started his career in Solin, and then continued in his native city of Split. In 1989, the German journal Karate Budo Magazine decorated him with the Golden Glove, and proclaimed him to be the most popular combat sportsman in the world, in front of Chuck Norris i Jean-Claude Van Damme.



Josip Babić

Branko Cikatić (1954-2020)

Legendarni hrvatski borac Branko Cikatić preminuo je u 65. godini. Rođen je 3. listopada 1954. u Splitu i bio je prvi pobjednik K-1 Grand Prix turnira u Japanu 20. travnja 1993. Tada je s 38 godina nokautima pobijedio u sve tri borbe, a u završnici je dobio slavnog Ernesta Hoosta. Turnir je osvojio s 38 godina, te je i danas najstariji borac kojemu je to uspjelo. Ukupno trinaest puta bio je svjetski prvak u raznim disciplinama.


Branko Ciktatić winner of the first K1 Grand Prix Tournament in Tokyo 1993,
against Ernest Hoost


Svoj sportski put započeo je u karate klubu Solin, potom u karate klubu Hajduk iz Splita, gdje jedno vrijeme obnaša dužnost tajnika. Bio je istaknuti profesionalac u kick - boxingu i tajlandskom boksu.


U amaterskom kick - boxingu bio je svjetski prvak 1981. godine, a europski prvak 1979., 1980., 1981., 1982. i 1983. godine.

Branko Cikatić with his Dutch trainer Thom Harnick

Nastupajući kao profesionalac, bio je svjetski prvak 1987., 1988., 1989. i 1992. godine, a europski prvak 1986. godine. Dana 23. rujna 1991., Vijeće Hrvatskog olimpijskog odbora imenuje Branka Cikatića za sportskog poklisara (ambasadora) u Njemačkoj.

Young Mirko Filipović Crocop (on the right) with his trainer Branko Cikatić

Njemački časopis Karate Budo Magazine 1989. mu je dodijelio nagradu Zlatna rukavica, te ga proglasio najpopularnijim u svijetu borilačkih sportova, ispred Chucka Norrisa i Jean-Claudea Van Dammea. Cikatić je glumio i u Hollywoodu, u filmu Skyscraper s Anne Nicole Smith.

Cikatićeva profesionalna karijera:

  • 1998. svjetski prvak po organizaciji WMTA u Zagrebu
  • 1995. 3. mjesto na K-1 Grand Prix u Tokiju
  • 1993. K-1 World Grand Prix prvak u Tokiju
  • 1991. svjetski prvak u tajlandskom boksu u Berlinu
  • 1990. svjetski prvak po organizaciji IKBF u kickboksu
  • 1989. prvak po WKA u kickboksu
  • 1987. svjetski prvak u tajlandskom boksu (82,5 kg) u Amsterdamu
  • 1986. europski prvak u tajlandskom boksu u Parizu
  • 1985. europski prvak u tajlandskom boksu u Amsterdamu


Branko Cikatić with one of his daughters, in his native city of Split, Croatia