Former GLORY welterweight champion Nieky Holzken feels unwanted in GLORY. “The Natural” alludes to a possible retirement after his current contract expires in May 2018.
Holzken fights Alim Nabiyev on Saturday’s GLORY Redemption in Ahoy Rotterdam, a bout that was originally scheduled for GLORY 45 in September.
“Last summer, I trained too long with a tinnitus inflammation,” Holzken tells Eindhovens Dagblad in an interview. “I couldn’t kick anymore. After a week of rest and electrotherapy, things quickly improved. Now I am super fit.”
Holzken believes a title shot is still on the horizon, although he thinks GLORY would rather get rid of him than give him another shot at the gold: “They want to get rid of me at GLORY. They want new faces on the posters. How do I know that? I heard it from the people from GLORY.”
“GLORY told me that I need to win two fights (before getting a title shot). After Ahoy, there’s probably a fight in February or March. I have no idea if there will be another title fight.”
It will be Holzken’s first fight since back-to-back title losses to Cédric Doumbé, who went on to lose the belt to Murthel Groenhart last August in Chicago with “The Natural” alluding to the fact that ‘politics’ played a roll in him losing the strap.
“In December I was the reigning world champ. In the fight with Doumbé a split-decision was needed to decide the winner,” Holzken says. “Normally the world champion gets the advantage from the judges. I didn’t.
“In the rematch last June in Paris, Doumbé got the benefit of the doubt. I just have to knock everybody out, that’s when it’s clear who’s the best. So that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Holzken talks Boxing
Despite signing a new contract with GLORY last March the Dutchman who turns 34 one week after the Nabiyev fight, says he’ll probably kickbox for another three to four years unless he is able to box full time.
“I prefer boxing. That’s where my challenges and dreams are,” Holzken says. “I’ve been seven-time world champion in kickboxing. What’s left to win? For that to happen, there has to be a boxing promoter with a nice contract. Otherwise, I’ll kickbox for another three-four years.”
On the 19th of May, “The Natural”, who’s 12-0 with 9 KO’s in boxing, fights WBF super middleweight championship Przemyslaw Opalach from Poland in Switzerland.
