Some interviews/news items translated from Dutch:
http://revu.nl/nieuws/rico-verhoeven-badr-gaat-in-de-2de-ronde-k-o/
Rico Verhoeven: “Badr will be knocked out in the 2nd round”
“I’m never afraid, I’m the best. As a kid I saw Peter Aerts win a title, I thought, I want that too. In the end in got 6 belts, but it’s not even about the belt anymore, it’s about the performance/achievement. There’s a lot in play. In my weightclass you always have to be careful, every mistake is one too many, every punch that hits can mean can mean a W or a L.”
“Nobody knows how fit Badr really is. They try to cover it up. In the beginning we will try to feel eachother out / gauge each other but shortly after it will be fireworks. I expect to knock him out in the second round. I’m never afraid, I’m the best.
http://www.bndestem.nl/sport/sport-...erhoeven-binnen-één-ronde-knock-out-1.6715767
Kickboxer Erol Zimmerman (lost in 2008 to Badr, won in 2012 from Verhoeven and lost 2 times after that to Verhoeven): “Badr Hari knocks Verhoeven out in the first round”
“Rico needs judges to determine the outcome of the match, Badr can finish the fight every second. Badr comes to the fight for one thing, to knock Rico out. And that’s gonna happen fast in this match. I guarantee to everybody that Rico’s gonna hit the ground.
Badr is sharp, alert and strong, a real wordclass fighter. A lot of word-class fighters took a long road to the top, but he was there immediately. Rico mostly sees fighting as a little game, and indeed with that mentality you will defeat the guys that are at the top now, but in the past you would never have come that far.
http://www.bndestem.nl/sport/sport-...ijn-dan-rico-verhoeven-verder-niets-1.6714834
Mike Passenier (trainer of Badr Hari): “We have to be a little more fit than Rico, nothing more”
“When Badr is in the ring, something will happen, people are not gonna buy a beer when he’s there. Rico won 49 fights total, Badr ended 88 fights on knock-out alone, that’s almost double. We have to be a little more fit than Rico, and nothing more. We are smarter, harder, more aggressive, better and stronger. We don’t need more.”
On why Badr walked away at press conference on 1st of November:
“Why not? What benefit has a ‘staredown’? You maybe do that on the day of weigh-ins. Why five weeks before when u walk around in casual clothes? What’s the next thing we have to do? Walk a lap around fumbling or something? Let’s be honest. Did he look like a joker or not?”
http://www.bndestem.nl/algemeen/spo...n-voorspellen-wie-wint-badr-of-rico-1.6719476
Predictions of Dutch kickboxing legends:
Sem Schilt (Won once against both, lost once to Badr):
“I won from both, so whoever wins, it only makes me stronger. It’s hard to predict who wins, but that’s also the beautiful thing of this match. The longer it takes, the more advantage Rico has. That’s because of his fitness, but also because of Badr’s mentality. He has a short fuse, and it goes right until he throws it all away. That’s an exciting part. Rico has to try to provoke Badr, to look if he can control his anger, not much is needed for that.
The quality of Badr is he’s always going for the KO. He has courage and dares to keep his hands low, it’s his advantage but also his disadvantage. He is easy to get frustrated. Rico has that less, but if he’s under pressure than it will be hard for him as well. The big question here is whether Badr can do this without losing himself.”
Remy Bonjasky (Two wins against Badr – one of which DQ of Badr kicking Remy while grounded).
“I give Badr 51% chance and Rico 49%. If Badr trained like in the old days, he’s gonna win. But in the end, the form of the day determines it. Rico has to dare to wait for his moment. Badr is strong, fast and has everything in him to be the best, but he never proved it. He has beaten everyone in the kickboxingworld, but never won the most important title, the K1. I got three of them, some Dutch have even 4, Badr has none.
Rico has a good closed guard, but does not have a ‘10’ in his fist, legs or knees. Maybe a 7. Badr does have that, a ’10’ in his fist, maybe even an 11. But, Badr has a worse guard. Rico’s advantage is being on a winstreak of 11 fights, Badr has had a layoff.”
Gökhan Saki (Lost twice to Badr, once to Verhoeven).
Predicts 60/40 in favour of Badr. “Badr is a special case. Great technique and insights. With regards to quality and experience he is a size too big/step too far for Rico. But, he’s had a long layoff. Rico is not a special fighter, not a natural talent. Technique and quality fall short, but he works hard and develops. Moves good on his feet for a heavyweight. Took a lot of fights and is very fit.”
Ismael Londt (lost to Badr in Badr’s last fight):
“I lost the fight against Badr because of timing, he’s got really good timing. First I said Badr’s definitely gonna win this, his style is spectacular. But on basis of preparation, I gonna say its fifty/fifty. Badr’s only got sparring partners that have the biggest respect for him, they are like punching bags. Rico spars with the big boys, he is the most fit and has the fire.
Quick KO for Hari or when it goes on longer Rico will win. If it goes past the first, Badr will get desperate. He goes for the kill, and probably will gas because of it.”
Peter Aerts (lost in 2013 to Verhoeven in his last fight)
Expects fireworks from the beginning, Badr will go for the KO in the first two rounds, Badr is very dangerous, he will give everything.