A significant era in professional kickboxing has formally concluded. Rico Verhoeven, the undisputed long-time heavyweight champion and organizational centerpiece of GLORY, has officially announced his departure from the promotion. Furthermore, he has vacated the GLORY heavyweight championship belt, a title he held with iron discipline for nearly a decade.
The announcement, later confirmed by GLORY management, immediately shifted the tectonic plates of the combat sports landscape, prompting a single, resounding question among fans and industry analysts: Where does the King of Kickboxing go next?
The Untouchable Legacy in Kickboxing
For years, Verhoeven’s dominance was less a competitive reign and more an administrative formality. Since capturing the title, he routinely defeated every challenger placed before him, often appearing technically superior to his entire division. He achieved the rare feat of clearing out an entire weight class, a scenario where the champion’s biggest challenge becomes finding viable opponents, rather than defending the title itself.
In the highly competitive world of heavyweight striking, maintaining such a dominant position requires a level of consistency that few athletes ever achieve. His departure confirms that having exhausted the available challenges in kickboxing, the only logical progression is to seek entirely new disciplines.
The Pivot to New Frontiers: Boxing and MMA
Verhoeven`s public statement confirmed he is actively exploring options across combat sports, specifically mentioning professional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). This transition from a highly specialized striking art to a generalist or different specialized art carries immense risk but promises high reward.
Potential Move to Boxing
The boxing ring presents the most immediate and, arguably, simplest crossover. Verhoeven possesses exceptional footwork, power, and defensive posture—all hallmarks of elite striking. Intriguingly, his resume already includes significant experience in the boxing world. He has repeatedly served as a sparring partner for former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, an indication that he is familiar with the specialized tempo and close-quarters strategy of professional boxing at its highest level.
Should Verhoeven choose boxing, the market instantly gains a massive, proven heavyweight commodity. The technical requirement for transition is lower than in MMA, as he would only need to adapt to the constraints of the sport (no kicks), rather than learning groundwork.
The Allure of Mixed Martial Arts
A move to MMA is the more ambitious project. While Verhoeven’s striking would instantly place him in the elite tier, the necessity of mastering wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu presents a daunting technical curve. Heavyweight MMA remains notoriously volatile, often rewarding size and raw power over technical complexity, but the addition of an established striking icon would undoubtedly generate immense interest from major promotions like the UFC or Bellator.
For an athlete who has essentially mastered his primary sport, the intellectual challenge of starting over in MMA—the ultimate technical puzzle—might prove irresistible, despite the considerable learning curve.
The GLORY Vacuum
Verhoeven’s vacancy creates an enormous operational challenge for GLORY. The promotion now faces the sudden absence of its biggest star and the need to crown a new champion in the most lucrative division. The immediate effect will be the necessity of establishing a rapid tournament or immediate title fight to legitimize a successor. While this provides opportunities for contenders who were long stalled by Rico’s presence, the star power void is substantial and difficult to fill.
Conclusion: The Clock is Ticking
Rico Verhoeven`s decision marks a calculated risk. Having dominated the world of kickboxing, he is now positioning himself for a lucrative, high-stakes second act. He departs his former home on his own terms, carrying the prestige of an undefeated champion. The combat sports world is now on high alert, awaiting the official announcement that will determine whether the King of Kickboxing aims to challenge the established order of the squared circle or attempt the complex transition into the cage.
