Rico Verhoeven has opened up about the discipline he’d like to fight Francis Ngannou in, with a match-up between the pair drawing closer.
The legends are two of the greatest heavyweight combat sports stars of all time, making a potential collision undeniably intriguing.
Rico Verhoeven wants to box Francis Ngannou
Tomorrow night, Rico Verhoeven will attempt to make another successful defense of his kickboxing world title, when he takes on Levi Rigters in a mega-rematch at Glory: Collision 7, inside the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands.
The first fight was an enthralling battle, with the heavyweight champion hitting the canvas after sustaining a brutal spinning-backfist, before rising to his feet to close the show himself.
Should he emerge from the second fight against his countryman with the belt still firmly wrapped around his waist, Verhoeven will turn his attention on a significant bout with Francis Ngannou.
The sporting titans have proven their skills beyond doubt, with the kickboxer, having solidified himself as one of the slickest strikers to have ever walked the face of the Earth, while the former UFC and reigning PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion, has cemented his position as the most dangerous puncher to have ever graced the cage.
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Therefore, the idea of watching the two icons trading shots is enough to leave the combat sports community positively salivating.
But with the athletes coming from different sports, what ruleset would they fight under?
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, ‘The Prince of Kickboxing’, exclaimed: “The talks have been there. I would love it.
“Which rules would make the most sense? Probably boxing, because then I go out of my world, and he goes out of his world, and then we bring it together, because I would have an advantage in kickboxing, and he would have an advantage in MMA.
“But maybe, we could do a real crossover, where he comes to kickboxing, and I go to MMA. There are so many different tastes. Let’s see what they’re bringing to the table.”
Rico Verhoeven is not overlooking Levi Rigters at Glory: Collision 7
While Verhoeven is looking forward to squaring off with Ngannou, he certainly isn’t overlooking Rigters by any stretch of the imagination.
The 35-year-old is adamant that this time around, he’s going to demolish his opponent and finish the rivalry once and for all.
He enthused: “Of course, that’s what we’re going for, full focus, not getting surprised and getting hit by anything crazy. Keep my hands up, stay focused, and take home the win.
“The focus needs to be on this. I never take any opponent lightly because that’s when mistakes happen.”
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