Rico Verhoeven and Levi Rigters met twice this year with heavyweight gold on the line in both bouts. These heavyweights represent the top of the rankings in this competitive division. Verhoeven and Rigters performed all-time classic wars in both of their fights. But the Combat Press 2024 Kickboxing Fight of the Year Award, is being given to their second meeting at GLORY: COLLISION 7.
Fight of the Year – Rico Verhoeven vs. Levi Rigters II
The heavyweight division in GLORY was on fire this year. They started with a Grand Prix which featured eight of the top-ranked fighters in this weight class. The long-standing GLORY king Rico Verhoeven battled his way to the finals with two wins and went largely untouched. Levi Rigters, the towering Dutch striker, was dropped in each fight he was in but was still able to rise to the occasion and defeat his opponents.
In the finals of the Grand Prix, Rigters dropped Verhoeven in what was the closest he has been to being knocked out since grabbing GLORY gold in 2014. The all-time great kickboxer struggled to stay on his feet. But yet, he still was able to knock out Rigters just a minute later in their fight to earn the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix title.
The two fought again at GLORY COLLISION 7 with the undisputed GLORY heavyweight world championship on the line. This time, the towering Rigters would be fresh going into this fight but now Verhoeven only needed to gameplan for a single opponent. These two put on fireworks.
Verhoeven made a grand entrance flanked by Roman centurions, setting the stage for a clash between two of the division’s finest. From the opening bell, Verhoeven showcased his trademark sharp combinations, inside leg kicks, and relentless forward pressure to dictate the pace. Rigters, however, proved to be a formidable challenger, landing powerful strikes and showing resilience.
The fight’s drama peaked in rounds three and four, with both men scoring knockdowns, Rigters with a right hook in the third and Verhoeven with a thunderous overhand in the fourth. In the final round, Verhoeven’s precise jabs and low kicks kept Rigters at bay, securing his unanimous decision victory and solidifying his reign as the ‘King of Kickboxing.’
The stakes and excitement in this bout have earned it the award for Combat Press’ 2024 Fight of the Year.
