![]() As of November 2021, Combat Press ranks him as the #5 welterweight kickboxer in the world. In 2015 Kickboxing Planet voted him the Kickboxer of the Year. He is the former Glory Welterweight Champion. Is the fight still Pay-Per-View in the UK?Īs things stand, ITV Box Office announced no changes to this Saturday’s transmission and you are able to purchase the fight for £9.95 here.Nicolaas Hubertus Holzken (born December 16, 1983) is a Dutch super middleweight kickboxer and professional boxer currently signed to ONE Championship, where he competes in the Lightweight division. I am committed to fighting on Saturday and will fight whoever the World Boxing Super Series puts in front of me.” ![]() “We got the call as we were boarding the plane. “I gave an interview last week and said it’s great there have been no drop-outs,” said Smith. ![]() The current WBC Diamond Champion, Smith and his trainer Joe Gallagher have spent the last months preparing for veteran southpaw Braehmer. “Callum, you better be ready, because I am, and I’m coming to beat you!” “I signed up as a substitute fighter so I’m in great shape and prepared for Saturday. “I’ve been waiting for this chance to come,” said Holzken. The Dutchman had been preparing to face Russia’s Dmitrii Chudinov, but insists he is ready to gatecrash the World Boxing Super Series party. Holzken holds a career-best win over Viktor Polyakov, whom it can be argued is European level.Īs the 34 year-old is yet to be tested fully at world title class, it’s hard to gauge whether his punching power alone gives him any chance against Smith, who on paper should win comfortably. Holzken is a far higher bet to defeat Smith. He’s from the Netherlands and is a seven-time kickboxing world champion.īookmakers odds suggest so. Predominantly known as a kickboxer, Holzken has fought 13 times in a professional boxing ring knocking out 10 opponents. “Fortunately, we are prepared for such eventualities and the tournament will move forward with our reserve fighter Nieky Holzken facing Callum Smith in our fourth semi-final.” “It is unfortunate for Braehmer particularly after such as strong showing in his quarter-final fight with Rob Brant,” said Kalle Sauerland. Holzken was already on standby as the reserve for Smith v Braehmer, and as the tournament’s Chief Boxing Officer Kalle Sauerland explains he will now have the opportunity to earn a place opposite WBA & IBO World Champion George Groves in the final. I was well prepared and looking forward to fighting Callum.” It is not possible for me to go into the ring like this and I would like to apologise to my fans. “Unfortunately, a fight in this state is out of the question. “I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” said Braehmer. if they had pulled out like Braehmer did.īraehmer has been suffering from influenza and yesterday revealed he would be unable to compete. Last week in Manchester, Zach Parker fought as a reserve and would have replaced either George Groves or Chris Eubank Jr. Higher profile fighters would be tough to secure in a substitute capacity, which is why Holzken was in a position to earn a place in such a lucrative fight bracket. The rigidness of ending the competition on a certain date mean back-ups must be in place. It’s a regular feature in tournament boxing to keep the format alive instead of postponing. WBN attempts to answer some of those below: Questions have been immediately raised as to why the fight was made, whilst others are asking who Holzken is and whether the clash is still expected to be on Pay-Per-View in the UK. Reserve fighter Nieky Holzken has since been drafted in to save the show and is a now a massive underdog to beat Smith in Nuremberg. Ex-world champion Braehmer was due to be matched up with Callum Smith for a potential place in the final opposite George Groves until a devastating setback struck.
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