Former sumo grand champion Akebono would like to see some big Hawai'i guys make it big in Japan again.

Even if not in sumo.

Akebono — who grew up in Waimanalo as Chad Rowan before reaching sumo stardom in Japan — is serving as a co-promoter for tomorrow's K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawai'i kickboxing event at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"This is my first time doing this, and the biggest thing for me was to put as many local fighters on the card as possible," Akebono said. "K-1 has a big following world-wide, not just Japan. So I think this is a good chance for the Hawai'i guys to get some exposure and, hopefully, make it big in this sport."

The emphasis will be on big tomorrow. All fighters on the card are heavyweights — at least 200 pounds.

The highlight of the card is an eight-man tournament. The winner of the tournament must win three bouts against three separate opponents in the same night.

Two Hawai'i competitors are in the tournament: Wesley "Cabbage" Correira of Hilo, and Deutsch Pu'u of 'Ewa Beach.

Pu'u was added to the tournament last week as a replacement for an injured fighter.

"I have nothing to lose," he said. "But my plan is to keep that K-1 trophy in Hawai'i."

Pu'u, 31, may be the kind of exciting striker Akebono is looking for.

Pu'u is 5 feet 11 and 260 pounds. He earned more than 100 victories as an amateur boxer, and once trained in kickboxing under former world champion Dennis Alexio.

"Hawai'i is more into (mixed martial arts), but my background is more boxing and kickboxing," Pu'u said. "So I think this event will suit my style."

Pu'u was born in Germany and raised in American Samoa. He moved to Hawai'i in 2002 while stationed with the U.S. Army.

"I grew up in Samoa, but I did most of my training in Hawai'i, so I feel like I represent Hawai'i," he said.

His path to the tournament title is not going to be easy.His quarterfinal opponent is Chalid "Die Faust" Arrab of Germany. Arrab won an eight-man K-1 tournament in Las Vegas in 2006.

"I saw some film on Chalid," Pu'u said. "I know he likes to bring the fight, and that could work for me. Most of my fights, I have to chase the other guy down. I think this guy will come right at me."

Correira will also have a tough quarterfinal draw in Eric "Butterbean" Esch. At 375 pounds, Esch is the heaviest competitor in the tournament.

In another quarterfinal bout, Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga of California will face Justice Smith of California. Siliga won last year's K-1 tournament in Hawai'i; Smith is one the stars of TV's "American Gladiators."

In the other quarterfinal, Nicholas Pettas of Denmark will face Rick Cheek of California.

There will also be three "Super Fights" on tomorrow's card.

Scott Junk of Kailua is scheduled to face Min Soo Kim of Korea in one of the Super Fights.

Also, Hawai'i fighters Junior Sua and Vilitonu Fonokalafi will appear in separate bouts on the undercard.

"When I was doing sumo, you also had Konishiki and Musashimaru, so the people of Hawai'i were following it," Akebono said. "This can be the same way. If you get a couple of Hawai'i guys who can make it to the top, the local people will follow it."

The card will be televised in more than 100 countries in Asia and Europe.

"There's been K-1 shows where the ratings show 50 percent of the people (in Japan) are watching," Akebono said.

After retiring from sumo, Akebono fought in several K-1 bouts. However, he said his days in the ring are over.

"I'm too old — I'll be 40 (next year)," he said. "But I would love to help some of the younger guys from Hawai'i make it."

SATURDAY'S BOUTS

Heavyweight tournament

Quarterfinal 1: Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga vs. Justice Smith. Quarterfinal 2: Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira. Quarterfinal 3: Chalid "Die Faust" Arrab vs. Deutsch Pu'u. Quarterfinal 4: Nicholas Pettas vs. Rick Cheek.

Super Fights

Paul Slowinski vs. Aziz Jahjah; Scott Junk vs. Min Soo Kim; Badr Hari vs. Domagoj Ostojic.

Preliminary bouts

Randy Kim vs. Vilitonu Fonokalafi; Gohkan Saki vs. Junior Sua.

PENN TO ATTEND UFC 87 EVENT AT MINNESOTA

World lightweight champion BJ Penn of Hilo won't be fighting on the UFC 87 card tomorrow at Minneapolis, but he will be watching with interest.

Two bouts on the card could be part of Penn's future plans.

Georges St. Pierre of Canada will defend his welterweight championship against Jon Fitch of Indiana in the main event. Penn has said that he would like to move up to the welterweight division to fight for another title.

Also on tomorrow's card, lightweight contenders Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta will meet, with the winner expected to become the No. 1 challenger for Penn's lightweight crown.

The UFC 87 card will be televised through Oceanic pay-per-view.