International Kickboxer Magazine, March/April 2016
Glory 26 was held on December the fourth of last year in Amsterdam, the unofficial capital of European kickboxing. The two biggest draw-cards of the event were respective world champions at both welterweight and superheavyweight; Nieky Holzken and Rico Verhoeven. Continue reading
When did you retire? What made you decide it was time?
I believe that passion is the main ingredient of being successful. I lost my passion after some heavy injuries and disappointment in decisions by management. Continue reading
International Kickboxer Magazine, May/June 2013
Ramon Dekkers was the most significant Western fighter to wear the Mongkon. In fact, he and Rob Kaman can be credited with re-inventing Muay Thai in Thailand, its country of origin. Continue reading
Ramon Dekkers is one of the greats of Muay Thai; probably the greatest Westerner to ever don the Mongkon. He had two hundred fights for one hundred and seventy-five wins, which would probably have been an even greater number had he not taken so many fights back-to-back with as little as a week in between.
Sadly, Dekkers died today, aged 43. He made a massive contribution to my fighting and training life; he and his father Cor Hemmers made my experience of living and training in the Netherlands fantastic.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/uci-agrees-to-strip-armstrong-of-titles-20121022-281uc.html
I feel great sympathy for Lance Armstrong today. Continue reading
L to R: Thom Harinck, Marcel, Raul Catinas, and some other dude I don’t recognise.
Marcel Dragan recalls the quotation from William Blake’s ‘Proverbs of Hell’; ‘He whose face gives no light shall never become a star.’ Marcel was the first, and probably the most influential, coach of one of the world’s most talented heavyweight kickboxers, Raul Catinas. This interview provides insight into Raul, as well as Cor Hemmers and Ramon Dekkers, in addition to the culture of Romania and why a hard sport like Muay Thai flourishes under such hard conditions. It’s also a portrait of one of the most unselfish, decent trainers I have met during my involvement with the sport.
Athough, he persists in calling me Jerry. Continue reading
Ben Edwards will face off against Romanian fighter Raul Catinas at K1 Final Elimination on October 14. Raul and Ben will meet in what I expect to be the most exciting fight on the card; both are big, powerful men with a reputation for big, powerful punches. Both have cut their teeth with previous Final Elimination appearances at which they lost to more experienced opponents. The road is narrowing to a path and Catinas and Edwards are nose-to-nose at the junction.
When I trained at Golden Glory, the most famous fighter on-campus was Chalid ‘Die Faust’ Arrab. There were another four lesser-known guys who were just as awesome; Gokhan Saki, Alistair Overeem, Errol Zimmerman and his cousin, Benjey. The first three have gone on to become household names (in kickboxing households, at least).
For my money, Benjey is next. Continue reading
This is most unfortunate news. I guess it’s what happens when money and ego are involved.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/2011/11/12/golden-glory-gate-–-the-trial/
Theme Park at its Darkest 