Dutch heavyweight kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven plans on cementing his status at the top of GLORY’s heavyweight division before investigating a possible cross-codes clash with PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in 2025.
Verhoeven takes on top contender Levi Rigters in the headline bout of GLORY Collision 7 on December 7 at the GelreDome football stadium in Arnhem in a rematch of their clash in the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix final, where Verhoeven was dropped by a spinning backfist from Rigters only to get up off the canvas and claim the win.
Ahead of their eagerly-anticipated clash, the pair, along with the other stars of the main card, faced the media at a press conference in Amsterdam, where Verhoeven revealed that he’d be prepared to face Ngannou after his bout with Rigters.
Speaking about his longevity as the man to beat at the top of the GLORY heavyweight division, Verhoeven spoke about the appetite he still has for competition, despite being on top for more than a decade.
“I love the challenge. I just love the challenge,” he said.
“And who’s out there? Who else is out there that wants to challenge me? I don’t know.
“In the last interview, we heard that Francis Ngannou wants a piece, so I’m open. But first, we got Levi in front of us, so let’s take care of business first, and then, yeah, continue from there.
“But, like I said, those top contenders, I just love it. I love to challenge myself and still show that, even though I’m like the older generation, I can still run with the young dogs.”
Verhoeven first captured the GLORY heavyweight championship when he outpointed Daniel Ghita at GLORY 17: Los Angeles in the summer of 2014. Since then, he has defended his belt against a who’s who of heavyweight kickboxing, and even took a busman’s holiday to compete in and win the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix earlier this year, defeating Rigters in the final on the four-knockdown rule after being dropped hard by a spinning backfist earlier in the fight.
To remain on top of any striking sport for 10 years is a remarkable achievement, but even more so for a heavyweight. Verhoeven puts his success down to his constant improvement in training as he continues to level up his game between fights.
“They asked me, like, what would be the difference between Rico now and the Rico of 10 years ago? It’s like, it’s totally different, man. The experience, the way we’re training, and we did so many fights, and you gained so much knowledge, and we got so much better, and we’re still open to learn. So I think that’s the key.”
That work ethic and desire to improve is coupled with Verhoeven’s own approach to analysing his career, with the big Dutchman seemingly particularly hard to please.
“Even though I win, it feels like I’m losing, because I feel I’m like I’m my own biggest critic,” he explained.
“So, for example, in the mistake that I made in the tournament in the final is something (where) it feels like I’ve lost. Different injuries or different fights, they bring their own thing with them that feels sometimes like a loss to me.
“So, like I said, I’m my own biggest critic. So we keep learning and we keep getting back better.”
