In 1994, a 30-year-old Andy Hug became an inspiration to European fighters after he emerged one of the first superstars in the sport of K-1 that was, at the time, still in its infancy. Since his tragic, leukemia-related death seven years ago, however, there has not yet emerged an individual from Hug’s native Switzerland to carry the torch once held by the fallen champion.

At 30 years of age, five-time world Muay Thai champion Azem Maksutaj is aiming to fill Hug’s shoes. A former training partner of Hug, the Swiss Muay Thai stylist has devoted the last six years of his career to feeling out the ranks in K-1’s worldwide competitive circuit.

Next Saturday, August 13th, Maksutaj will have another opportunity to earn his first K-1 tournament crown and bring himself one step closer to attaining his ultimate goal of becoming an icon. The eight-man, single-elimination “Mayhem At The Mirage” affair will also provide him with a chance to avenge a defeat that he suffered at the hands of three-time Las Vegas K-1 tournament champion, Michael McDonald (pictures), in Sweden on May 21st. Maksutaj fought McDonald to a three-round draw, but was handed a loss after K-1’s customary, “sudden death” round was added to the fight in order to determine a winner.

Speaking from a hotel room in Croatia where he spent one week of his ten week training camp with martial arts fighting superstar, Mirko Filipovic (pictures), Maksutaj makes it clear that he feels his time to shine has come.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your experience training with Mirko?

A: Listen, I am preparing now for around eight weeks. In Switzerland, since Andy Hug died, we haven’t had a team and top fight partners. I thought where can I go for sparring and I saw Cro Cop when I went to fight in K-1 three years ago in Zagreb. I did sparring with him then. He liked my style and he asked me when he was preparing for a fight if I could come train for a week with him. It’s good for me to spar with him because I can see where I am with power and everything.

Q: How has working with him helped you improve as a fighter?

A: I mean, he is the best. Nobody can help you much like him. I need only one week (with him). My training is in Switzerland. I have boxing trainers there and Thai boxing trainers there. The problem in Switzerland is that you don’t have enough sparring partners so I thought it would help to go to Croatia for a week.

Q: What is your training in Switzerland like?

A: I started in Muay Thai when I was young. Now I am older and heavier and I’m trying to do K-1 more. I was training also with Andy Hug. Now, I also have a boxing license.

Q: So, you were a part of “Team Andy” back in the 90’s (Hug formed Team Andy, a squad of up and coming martial arts fighters, while living and training in Japan)?

A: No. Team Andy – we don’t have this team anymore because of Japan. We can’t use this name anymore. You know, Team Andy was just (in existence) about three, four, or five years. Andy was always in Japan. He (would) come (back) one or two months to Switzerland. I have my own gym (Wing Thai gym) now for 11 years. I train by myself with my own trainers and my own team.

Q: So, when you trained with Andy, it was only in Switzerland, not Japan?

A: Only in Switzerland. Yes.

Q: What was the experience of training with Andy like?

A: He was helping everybody. He was helping me very much. He was asking me one year before he died if I wanted to come to Japan. But, I had a gym in Switzerland and I didn’t want to leave my gym and my family. But, Andy was Andy – always perfect. His last five years, he was the best. When he was changing from Karate to Thai boxing, which was around 1992, he didn’t have so good a chance. But, after 1995, he was good again.

Q: Your first round opponent in Las Vegas will be Michael McDonald (pictures), whom you fought earlier this year. How do you feel you will match up with him this time?

A: Oh, you know, Michael McDonald (pictures) is good. But, I think he is now too old. (During the fight), he was on the floor two times. I was on the floor one time. But, he has big name and (the judges) called it a draw. In the extra round, we both were tired. But, now let’s see. I don’t want to talk too much. You will see, though.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to tell people?

A: In 1997, I was in Las Vegas and I liked it. It will be nice to be there again. I just want to show people the spirit I have. Everybody thinks that Swiss guys aren’t so strong. I don’t know why, but I will show them true fighting spirit.