Having achieved one of the very best careers in kickboxing history, Ernesto Hoost fought many greats.
No great champion is able to rise to legend status without having rivals that can push them to be better and define their legacies.
Hoost believes that his fellow Dutch kickboxer Peter Aerts was the toughest opponent he came up against, having also taken on several MMA icons.
While Hoost would’ve likely preferred to have never faced Bob Sapp, there is one opponent that he wishes he could’ve shared the ring with.
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Ernesto Hoost names Rico Verhoeven as the one opponent he didn’t get to share the ring with that he would’ve liked to have fought
The likes of Ernesto Hoost set a high bar for other Dutch kickboxers to follow after everything that they accomplished in their careers.
Following the golden era of the K-1 Grand Prix, there is one kickboxer who many believe is the greatest of his generation.
Rico Verhoeven and Hoost were both active around the same time, but while ‘Mr Perfect’ was coming toward the end of his career, Glory’s heavyweight champion was just getting started.
Verhoeven’s 10-year unbeaten run as the champion has seen the 36-year-old graduate from his former moniker of the ‘Prince of Kickboxing’ to the ‘King of Kickboxing’.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, Hoost named Verhoeven as the guy he’d want to compete against when asked if there was one dream opponent that he never got to face.
“Maybe Rico. Rico Verhoeven. He’s kind of untouchable for many years now so in my prime, it would be very interesting to fight with him.”
Hoost admitted that he doesn’t think Verhoeven is the most entertaining fighter, but as someone who was famous for his perfect technique, he has a lot of respect for what the current champion has accomplished.
“You have to give him credit because I am not really a fan of his fighting style but he gets the job done all the time. That is very special and he gets the job done for many years now, so that is quite good I guess.”
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Legendary tournament fighter Ernesto Hoost will play a big role in an upcoming Grand Prix
To be considered a kickboxing great, you have to prove yourself in the most difficult aspect of the sport, tournaments.
Rico Verhoeven did this last year when he emerged victorious in Glory’s one night heavyweight Grand Prix, stopping Levi Rigters in the final.
While Ernesto Hoost is regarded as one of the best tournament fighters of all time, having won the K-1 World Grand Prix four times, ‘Mr Perfect’ is now set to play a part in an upcoming elimination bracket.
Having worked as a coach for SENSHI, Hoost will be joined by several other former elite kickboxers as instructors, referees and coaches for the organization’s first Grand Prix event.
SENSHI 28 takes place on September 13, where ten fighters will compete to lift the very first SENSHI Grand Prix heavyweight champion belt.