Rico Verhoeven has prepared for his fight with Russian Artem Vakhitov in a villa in the Gooi region. On Saturday evening, he hopes to become world heavyweight champion for the fourteenth time in Ahoy.
“We are allowed again,” Verhoeven said leading up to GLORY 100 at a press event in Amsterdam. On Saturday evening, he hopes to be rewarded again for the sacrifices he has made in recent months. “I have been on a diet for twelve weeks now and have trained hard.”
On social media, Verhoeven’s partner shared images earlier this week of enjoying an extensive rice table in the garden adjacent to the villa. She then zoomed in on Verhoeven’s meal: dry rice with a piece of salmon. “Dedication is key,” it said.
“We rented a house where we could retreat and train comfortably without being disturbed. I withdraw completely for a while. Pure rest, for my body and mind, together with my team and wife. And the children also come by occasionally,” said Verhoeven.
“We talk about how hard we have worked for this moment at the table and we analyze. On Thursday evening I did some shadow boxing to activate the body.”
“I prefer to have as few people around me as possible in such a week. Because I don’t think I’m the most sociable version of myself then. And those people know that about me.” From the background in the small room of Steinberger Airport Hotel, it then sounds: “That’s right.”
Undefeated for over a decade
The 36-year-old Verhoeven is already competing for his fourteenth world title. He has been undefeated for more than a decade. “I don’t necessarily need motivation. I just want to continuously become a better version of myself, in any form. By training hard and looking at previous matches. What went well, but especially what went wrong? Continuously looking for improvements.”
Eleven years ago, in June 2014, Verhoeven became world champion for the first time. It seems like a lifetime ago for him too. “I am a different person now, literally. All the cells in your body are renewed. I am a very different person than in 2014. And yet that first world title remains the highlight of my career.”
A career in which Verhoeven says he has achieved almost everything he hoped for. “What else do I want? You talk as if I’m almost falling over,” Verhoeven counters with a grin.
“But yes, in terms of my sports career, I am indeed heading towards the end. It is my mission to finish as world champion, that is the ultimate way for me to stop. Then I have done what Sem Schilt also did.”
No sparks at staredown
Where in the past sparks sometimes flew during the staredown the day before the fight, things were remarkably friendly on Friday. Opponent Artem Vakhitov smiled politely and applauded when Verhoeven entered the stage. There was no trash talk. “I wasn’t so concerned with that, I have respect for him,” Verhoeven kept to himself.
Leading up to the fight, it was heard from various quarters that the considerably smaller and lighter Vakhitov would be no match for him. “I think it will be a good chess match. He is smart and tactically strong.”
“He comes from the light heavyweight division and is a bit more explosive and faster. For that reason, we also approached some lighter fighters for training. We look at footage of him every day, looking for patterns. And I think I have found them. I’m looking forward to it and we’re going to make it a party again.”
Sparks in lobby
An hour after addressing the press, there were still sparks to be detected. As Verhoeven wanted to leave the hotel, he had an argument with one of the media representatives in the lobby. “Always negative,” Verhoeven shouted in an annoyed tone. Security guards had to step in to separate the two and everything ended without incident. “Focus on tomorrow,” it sounded from Verhoeven’s entourage, after which they returned to the Gooi.