Murthel vervangt Diender @ It's Showtime Madrid

**marcelt** · 17-06-2011, 12:08

A significant change to the main card of Saturday's It's Showtime Madrid event, as Mike's Gym fighter Murthel Groenhart has stepped in for William Diender against Rafi Zouheir.

Now scheduled to face Zouheir at the 70 kg. weight limit, Groenhart just secured a decision victory over Errol Koning at It's Showtime Poland last Saturday, in a bout contested at 77 kg.

The quick turnaround will surely present a real challenge for Groenhart, who hasn't competed at 70 kg. since losing to Khalid Bourdif at Fightclub Presents: It's Showtime 2010 last December.

The 24-year-old Groenhart remains a top talent in the Netherlands and represents a considerable step up in competition for Zouheir come fight time on Saturday. While William Diender fought well in his last It's Showtime appearance, against Rachid Belaini, the well-traveled veteran is effectively an opponent for top competition at this point.

While Murthel Groenhart will surely enter Saturday's bout a favorite, those unfamiliar with Rafi Zouheir should not count him out entirely. Zouheir was victorious at the K-1 MAX Madrid 2011 show in January, working his way through an eight-man field in a single-night tournament capped off with a victory over Warren Stevelmans. While the Spanish fighter's tournament win brought him some added attention, there has been some debate surrounding the judging of his bouts in Madrid.