Kickboxer Rico Verhoeven (35) defends his world title on 14 June against the RUS Artem Vakhitov. Kickboxing organization Glory confirmed the opponent of the 35-year-old Dutchman on Tuesday evening.
De Gigant from Halsteren last came into action in December when he successfully defended his world title against fellow countryman Levi Rigters for the twelfth time in a row.
The 33-year-old Vakhitov is two-time world champion at the light heavy weights at Glory and has taken action in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in recent years.
“It is said that styles determine how fighting goes. With artem discipline, speed and fighter instinct versus Rico’s strength endurance and experience, this promises to be one of the greatest confrontations in the history of martial arts,” says Glory director Marshall Zelaznik in a press release.
It is not yet known where the battle for the world title at the heavyweights takes place. Glory announces that later this week.
After the win on Rigters, Verhoeven said: “What Glory comes with, I see automatically. I am not busy with the next challenger, I will be ready.”
Glory reported earlier that the title fight will be shown on 14 June on streaming platform Dazn.