As Rico Verhoeven gears up to defend his kickboxing world title against Levi Rigters, the reigning champion opened up about his relationship with his late father. In an exclusive interview with Giovanni Tjin, the kickboxer emphasizes the importance of self-criticism and learning from past experiences.
The all-time kickboxing great rarely allows a look into his past. Verhoeven's father played a pivotal role in introducing him to kickboxing, setting him on the path to GLORY gold. Despite this, their relationship was fraught with challenges. Looking back, Verhoeven expressed regret over the lost time with his father, who passed away seven years ago.
"In hindsight, you realize how much time was wasted," Verhoeven admitted. “Life is ridiculously short. If we had known better, we would have done better. I really live in the now, partly because of those experiences,” he said, acknowledging how the difficult relationship shaped his approach to life.
We always think there will be more time, more chances to fix things, to say the things we mean—but sometimes, you don’t get that time. That’s what hits you the hardest when someone is gone.
Verhoeven’s candid comments about his father believing in learning from past mistakes to grow both personally and professionally. “If you want to become a better version of yourself, you have to look back at situations and acknowledge where you could have done things differently,” Verhoeven explained.
Verhoeven recognizes the importance of balance. The physical toll of his career is evident, but he credits his team, including coach Dennis Krauweel and manager Karim Erja, for helping him maintain his edge. “Having a good team is crucial. They know me so well that sometimes they can see through things I’d rather hide,” he shared.
For Verhoeven, the regret over the time lost with his father cuts deep. Through his father’s memory, the Dutch fighter has found both pain and purpose. His reflections are a stark reminder that even for champions, the toughest battles are often fought outside the ring.
Levi Rigters will look to take the crown from Rico Verhoeven on December 7 at GLORY COLLISION 7.
