PDA

View Full Version : Interview Nieky Holzken



Wheelie
09-01-2014, 19:01
Nieky Holzken you just became Glory welterweight tournament champion, how does it feel?
It feels great thank you
How was your preparation for the fight?
I trained hard twice a day 4 hours, my morning training at 07.00 and then take some rest and back in the gym in the evening at 19.30.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1002039_346922085446314_1951616572_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1002039_346922085446314_1951616572_n.jpg)
Your first fight was a rematch against Karapet, how did you feel the fight went and what can you tell us about the fight
I was very confident going into the fight, I have beaten him before and we executed everything we trained in practice so the fight went like planned.
The final fight was against new talent Valtellini in what might be the best fight Glory fight of the year, if you look back at that fight what can you tell us about the final.
We have a Dutch saying; the biggest trees catch the most wind. He was hyped by Glory which is understandable, he looks and fights good and is from North America. So that’s a fighter Glory wants to promote. But I knew that I was too experienced for him. He’s a very good fighter with a bright future in the sport but if you compare his 10 fights or so against my 100 fights it’s a big difference in competition. I told my trainer Sjef before the fight that I was going to KO him and was happy my predication came through.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1604520_415073548623769_827475600_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1604520_415073548623769_827475600_n.jpg)
You also have done some boxing fights, any plans for 2014 for boxing?
I have some plans for it but nothing is finalized yet but I have boxed 4 fights and won all of them on KO, so I have a good start and want to keep on boxing more fights.
Your next fight in Glory is in Zagreb for the world title against Marc de Bonte, how do you see the fight going and what do you know about your opponent.
Yes, he’s a very strong fighter and I know he wanted to fight me pretty bad so now he’s getting that opportunity to face me but this fight is also is going to be in my favor.
As a boxing fan it was pretty special to see Floyd on the Glory event in Japan watching your fight, how was that and did you spoke to him.
Well, I love boxing so it was special to see he was there at the moment I became champion. I didn’t had the opportunity to talk to him but I made a picture with him after my fight so that’s cool.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1497593_269766379814662_440878886_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1497593_269766379814662_440878886_n.jpg)
Are there fighters that you still like to face, for example Aussie who has beaten you twice or the newly signed Kyshenko that is going to fight at welterweight as well?
Let’s see and let Glory decide who they want me to fight, I will fight everyone in my weight class.
At the moment Glory is clearly the number one promotion kickboxing wise, how is it to fight for them and what do you think of what they have achieved in two years’ time.
Yes, Glory is the biggest promotion out there with the most fighters signed so I’m proud and happy to fight for such organization. That means that my belt means something.
Back in the days you use to fight in the lightweight (-70kg) division because it was a very popular weight class. Now you are fighting welterweight, can we see a Nieky dropping down a weight or fighting lightweight guys on a catch weight like Ristie or maybe a higher weight class Levin?
At the moment I’m focused on the welterweight division. My results show that’s my division and before moving up or down I want to dominate my weight class a couple of years before thinking about such fights. I now have the tournament belt but I want to be the world champion first so there are still enough challenges to look forward to.
Who are you own favorite fighters and which fighters do you like to watch yourself.
I always watch some Ramon Dekker fights before my own fight and I like Tyrone Spong very much. I like his style and I think we have a little bit a similar style so I like to watch him as well.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/482388_254593318010360_1492064084_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/482388_254593318010360_1492064084_n.jpg)
You train in your own gym in Helmond and also with Mikki Benazzous, how do you seperate the two and how is that cooperation going?
Yes our cooperation works just perfect, we are a family. I train with all types of fighters, fighters that are much bigger than me but also lighter guys that are fast. There are too many people to call by name.
Now you don’t really have a fight coming up soon, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Spending time with my family, enjoying good food, watching movies or game with my son. Just be with them. I also get a lot of joy in training others at my gym so that’s basically it.
You dedicated your fight to Ramon Dekkers, how important was he for you
I always looked up to him and taught me a lot. He died way too young.
A lot of fighters are dreaming to become world champion or win a title like you just did. But you have done all those things do you still have dreams?
Yes, becoming world champion boxing.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1185094_10202503542931545_238494404_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1185094_10202503542931545_238494404_n.jpg)
Currently the kickboxing scene is picking up; Glory that is doing international shows and Enfusion that is giving you talent the opportunity to break through in Europe and the rest of the world. Do you notice this development.
Yes, it’s great development for kickboxing in general, we need to have events so the new fighters can gain experience and become better fighters for the future.
Your family always travels with you and you are one of the few fighters that have such a big family supporting your career, how important is that support for you?
Very important, that’s my biggest motivation and power.
Your trainer Sjef Webber is also your father in law, isn’t it difficult sometimes to have work and your private life so involved with each other
No, not really. We are always honest to each other and we work perfectly together. Most of the time we think alike so there is never a big problem on business or private level.
Your son is now 7 years old, do you already see a talent in him and is he going to be a fighter just like his dad or does he rather play soccer?
He’s very talented but he still likes to do so much things so I give him the room to explore what he wants to do. He can decide what he wants to do I will support no matter what.
http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/75880_236127753190250_1268028191_n.jpg (http://www.mixfight.nl/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/75880_236127753190250_1268028191_n.jpg)
In a Dutch tv show ‘man bijt hond’ you could say you have a huge entourage of people following you to the fight, how is it that so many people come and watch your fights?
Big families on both sides that love each other and good friends that want to share the moment with us. If you keep being yourself you will see that people will stick around and will keep supporting you.

Tykill
09-01-2014, 19:17
Nu ik er over nadenk zijn Spong en Holzken erg vergelijkbaar in stijl. Beiden geen trashtalkers maar klam eerlijk en kei hard trainen. En beiden vinden hun familie zeer belangrijk.

En ik ben fan van beiden.

lopez86
09-01-2014, 19:53
Nu ik er over nadenk zijn Spong en Holzken erg vergelijkbaar in stijl. Beiden geen trashtalkers maar klam eerlijk en kei hard trainen. En beiden vinden hun familie zeer belangrijk.

En ik ben fan van beiden.

x2.
Ik heb me in het verleden wel eens anders uitgelaten over Nieky, maar hij is enorm gegroeid en ik was zwaar onder de indruk van hem tijdens het GLORY toernooi.
Echt een volwassen vechter geworden, komt nu regelrecht in zijn prime lijkt t.
Hard work pays off.

Kemal
09-01-2014, 20:18
Nu ik er over nadenk zijn Spong en Holzken erg vergelijkbaar in stijl. Beiden geen trashtalkers maar klam eerlijk en kei hard trainen. En beiden vinden hun familie zeer belangrijk.

En ik ben fan van beiden.

x3!