Paris, France – On April 29, 2026, the Grand Palais, a landmark Parisian venue known for its historical significance in sports and culture, will host a major kickboxing event. This marks a new chapter for the Grand Palais, which previously welcomed fencing competitions during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and was once the stage for boxing icon Marcel Cerdan in 1942.
Kickboxing World Championship Featuring French Stars
The event will showcase a total of seven fights, including two world title bouts. Headlining the evening is French kickboxing champion Cyril Benzaquen, who will be defending his world title for the sixth time under the iconic glass roof of the Grand Palais. He will be joined by fellow French kickboxing stars Karim Ghajji and Cedrick Peynaud, promising an evening of high-level competition.
Promoting French Talent and Expanding Reach
Despite the French Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Associated Disciplines Federation boasting more licensees than English boxing, high-level kickboxing events often lack significant exposure. Yacin Berrabah, a former kickboxing world champion and the promoter of this event, aims to change this. “The goal is to highlight French fighters and attract a wider audience,” Berrabah stated. He also expressed ambitions to organize similar events in other French cities like Marseille and Nice. “Paris and the Grand Palais are our showcase today to promote kickboxing in France,” he added. The Grand Palais is expected to welcome up to 4,000 spectators for the evening.
Kickboxing’s Global Roots and Enduring Values
Berrabah believes that kickboxing can resonate with a broad French audience through the “emotions” it evokes. He notes the stark contrast with Japan, where kickboxing, a sport with roots in the 1960s fusion of karate and English boxing techniques, can draw crowds of up to 40,000 spectators for a single event. Having competed in over fifty countries during his career, Berrabah emphasizes the universal values of the sport. “The values of kickboxing are the same all over the world: resilience, hard work, self-denial, respect. It’s international, no matter the country. This has marked me. Kickboxing has structured me and now helps me in my career,” he shared. For one evening, Paris will indeed become the capital of kickboxing, much to Berrabah’s delight.
Source: https://fr.news.yahoo.com/kick-boxing-sinvite-au-grand-141211471.html
