Rico Verhoeven will make his long-awaited return to GLORY on November 4. The world champion will defend his title at the Collision 6 event in the GelreDome against the Dutch Nigerian Tariq Osaro, who can call himself interim champion.
As we mentioned earlier, Rico Verhoeven was actually supposed to enter the ring last spring against the Croatian Antonio Plazibat. Unfortunately, that was cut short when 34-year-old Verhoeven suffered a serious knee injury last January.
What followed was months of rehabilitation , but Rico Verhoeven was recently cleared by doctors to enter the ring again. This was immediately followed by scheduling the fight with Osaro, who was seven years younger, during Glory Collision 6.
It's been a long road back to recovery, but I'm finally where I wanted to be. I'm so eager to get back into the ring. I feel stronger than before. I have a lot of respect for Osaro, but I do have the advantage. Osaro is focused, big and powerful and has risen to the top very quickly, but there is one thing he doesn't have and that is the real championship belt and the associated experience of a big fight like this.
We will see who will win this fight and keep the championship belt in the air, but whether Rico wins or loses... Nothing but praise for this great Dutch fighter who has been at the top of the kickboxing world for a decade.
