The big absentee today at the weigh-in and staredown for Glory 80 was, how could it be otherwise, Badr Hari. That is why attention was focused even more on tomorrow evening’s headliner in Hasselt, Belgium, Jamal Ben Saddik against Levi Rigters. The Dutchman Rigters is experiencing hectic days, because his wife is heavily pregnant and he could become the father of twins at any moment.
Tim Reedijk
Mar 18 2022
Latest update:
14:41
The weeks leading up to a fight are often quite simple to outline for an athlete. Sleep, eat and exercise, all in seclusion as much as possible. For Levi Rigters (26) it is slightly different. His wife is heavily pregnant and could give birth to twins any moment.
,,I can totally see it happening, that I come home on Sunday, have won this match and that the two boys then come”, says Rigters in the fighter’s hotel in Brussels. “It could happen at any moment and I can only hope it doesn’t happen now. This week has been very exciting. We have been to the hospital a few times. It’s extra distraction, but it motivates me. I want to do it for them. I was able to keep my focus quite well, because in the last week you don’t train much anymore.”
Just before the interview he came face to face with ‘The Goliath’ Ben Saddik. The Belgian Moroccan smiled and whispered something to Rigters. Then the two broke up laughing, albeit an attempt to intimidate Ben Saddik. ,,I didn’t really understand what he said,’ explains Rigters. ,,He had to repeat it again and then I didn’t hear it properly again. It was like, ‘See if you still look or smile like this tomorrow.’”
Rigters laughed off Ben Saddik’s words a little. ,,It’s a bit of a game”, says ‘The Judge’. He prefers to focus on his fight tomorrow. He wants to seriously claim a title fight with Rico Verhoeven for a super important party in the foreseeable future. ,,This is my biggest game so far, a party that can open a lot of doors. It’s a moment to prove myself and show that I belong to the top. I’ve always said I want to face Rico at 28, so that’s just over a year away. If I win tomorrow, I’ll be well on my way.”
Tim Reedijk
@timreedijk
He settles for the underdog role against Ben Saddik, who made a comparison between the Champions League (himself, in his eyes) and the Europa League (Rigters). ,,I’ve only been with Glory for a year and have fought four fights”, says Rigters. ,,So it makes sense that I am the underdog on paper. He has more experience, has been with Glory longer. I have to prove I’m not the underdog. Every fighter has weaknesses and strengths. His coverage is not always good. There are more things like this and we have a nice one there game plan made for. It is very likely that the fight will not make it to the end. With heavyweights it can be over quickly.”
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