Former GLORY welterweight Champion Nieky Holzken makes his return in Amsterdam. GLORY will hold an event in the Dutch capital coming September, GLORY matchmaker Cor Hemmers stated last Saturday after GLORY 43 in New York.
“We’re going back to a historical venue when it comes to thai boxing. It’s a venue where Ramon Dekkers and Gilbert Ballantine fought a lot of times, so all the people will love it,” Hemmers said to GLORY’s YouTube channel.
“When we announce the venue, it’s a little bit of a secret now, but I can tell it’s in Amsterdam, it’s a historical venue and maybe the hardcore fans will know where it is.”
Everything points towards an event in Sporthallen Zuid, a historic venue for Dutch combat sports in the south of Amsterdam, close to the Dutch Olympic Stadium. Dekkers and Ballantine fought two of their three legendary fights in that same venue.
The sports hall was also the venue for several It’s Showtime and Rings events, but hasn’t held a kickboxing event since it was renovated in 2013.
“We will bring up a great show with some world title fights. Nieky Holzken will fight there and after that show we’re moving to China for the first time,” Hemmers stated.
Holzken lost his last two fights under the GLORY banner to Cédric Doumbé, the current champion on -77 kilogrammes. Last December “The Natural” lost his strap to the Frenchman by split decision on GLORY: Collision in Oberhausen.
In June, the Dutchman got his rematch against “The Best” in the main event of GLORY 42 in Paris. The result was the same as in Oberhausen: Doumbé was victorious by split-decision.
According to Fightstadium.com, the event will be held on September 30 and will possibly feature Hesdy Gerges as well. “Fighterheart” last fought on GLORY 41 in Den Bosch on April 20, where he beat Tomas Hron by decision.
