He is 39, but feels 18. Breda kickboxing legend Errol ‘The Bonecrusher’ Zimmerman steps back into the ring at Glory, the largest kickboxing organization in the world. And his mission is clear: “Destroy everyone and ultimately knock out Rico Verhoeven again.”
“Rico has been undefeated for far too long,” Zimmerman says with a broad grin. “I knocked him out once and no one has done it since. How great would it be if I did it again?”
But things are still a long way off. The 39-year-old Breda kickboxer must first qualify for the Glory final tournament on December 13. The first bump for a wildcard is the fight against Australian Alex Simon, a 150-kilo heavyweight who has his roots in weightlifting. “A strong boy, but experience always wins,” Zimmerman says combatively.
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He will ultimately have to win the final tournament in 2026 to be able to compete against Rico Verhoeven for the world title. “He is a real champion, I admit that,” says the Breda veteran. “But even champions have a weak spot and I think I know the right way to beat him.”
Zimmerman has faced Rico Verhoeven a total of three times in the past. In 2012 he beat the reigning champion within a minute knockoutbut the other two games were lost. “People say that’s why it’s 2-1 for Rico,” says ‘The bone crusher‘. “But the last time I had to retire due to an injury. That’s not a real defeat in my eyes and in my administration it actually reads 2-2. Because if you knock someone out, you’re ahead by one point anyway, right?”
Errol Zimmerman’s return to Glory is striking. Money plays no role, he says, and neither does his age. According to him, it is no problem at all that he is still in the ring at the age of 39. “I still feel 18. Age is just a number. As soon as I step into the ring, I forget everything. Then I show who I am and what I stand for. Fighting is not something I do, it is who I am.”
Zimmerman is already training hard at Hemmers Gym in Breda to achieve his goal. When he trains, you see him enjoying himself. “It’s always an adventure with Errol,” says trainer Nicky Hemmers, laughing. “He has fought eight matches in the past two years, six of which were on knockout. If you call him to fight, he immediately says yes. And only then does he ask where it is.”
“I’m not done yet, every day is a war.”
Hemmers knows what the public can expect in the future. “Spectacular,” he says. “Errol steps into the ring as if he is going to fry an egg. One of the two will sit down, you know that for sure. And usually it is the other.”
And with a wink he adds: “It’s already an adventure to get him fit. But once he’s loose, everyone has to take cover. Even in the gym.”
Zimmerman himself smiles broadly: “I’m back. And believe me: I’m far from done. Every day is different, but every day is war.”