It will not be the first time that Ben Saddik and Verhoeven fight each other. The 30-year-old Moroccan Belgian made his professional debut against the Dutchman in 2011 with a technical knockout.
Verhoeven took revenge in 2017 by eliminating Ben Saddik in the 5th round of a fierce title fight in the sold-out Rotterdam sports palace Ahoy.
Ben Saddik was last in the ring in December 2018, when he won a heavyweight tournament with a broken hand.
Last year in December, the 31-year-old Verhoeven fought for the last time, against his fellow countryman Badr Hari, who had to give up with an ankle injury. Verhoeven successfully defended his championship belt for the 9th time in a row.
“I estimate my chances very high. I have worked very hard in recent years,” says Ben Saddik, who has also fought against thyroid cancer twice in his life. “Rico Verhoeven is currently the rightful world champion, but that does motivate me. I hope that I can take the title to Antwerp. It is time for a new champion.”
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