Thian de Vries: “In a Few Years, I’ll Be Bigger Than Rico Verhoeven Ever Was”

There comes a moment in combat sports when you can just feel it coming. When a young fighter exudes so much confidence that you know: this is the next king of the ring. I’ve been sitting cageside and in the corners of the biggest galas for years, but the vibe around Thian de Vries is different. That 24-year-old isn’t just letting off steam in the gym; he’s literally blowing away the competition with a mission he makes no secret of.

The heir to the throne who shows no mercy

Where some fighters hide behind humble answers, Thian de Vries pulls no punches. In a recent interview, he threw a cat among the pigeons by declaring that within a few years he’ll be more famous and bigger than Rico Verhoeven ever was. Make no mistake. You can also see him doing it in training. While Rico was the undisputed king of the heavyweight division for years, the new generation looks ready to take up that mantle. And Thian de Vries is the one shouting the loudest, but also training the hardest.

I spoke to some people in his inner circle recently, and they confirm the picture: this isn’t a guy waiting for his turn. This is an athlete bulldozing his own path. The way he maintains his body, the intensity with which he keeps honing his techniques... it’s just next level. The statement about Verhoeven isn’t just a cheap promotional stunt; it’s a reflection of a belief woven into every kick and punch.

The secret behind the new hardware

In combat sports, it’s not just about muscle; it’s also about the tools. And right now, there’s an interesting detail to report about Thian de Vries on that front. His top coach recently tested the new SMTS boxing gloves. What was immediately noticeable? The fit and wrist support are so advanced that it almost feels like they were tailor-made for Thian De Vries. For a fighter as explosive as him, that’s worth its weight in gold.

• Impact distribution: The shock absorption is so good that you can punch harder without risking your hands.
• Wrist stability: No risk of sprains, even with the hardest hooks.
• Breathability: Perfect for long rounds in training, which is essential for Thian de Vries’s ascent.

Testing that gear shows that Thian de Vries’s team overlooks no detail. Every gram, every millimetre counts in the preparation. They’re not focused on the next fight; they’re focused on building a dynasty. And when you hear how the coach talks about those gloves – like he’s just found a brand-new weapon for a war that’s already underway – you know something special is brewing.

The timeline to the top

We can beat around the bush, but the reality is simple: Glory’s heavyweight division is about to be shaken up big time. Thian de Vries is 24, in the absolute prime of his career. He has the speed of a lightweight but the knockout power of a tank. While Rico Verhoeven has reached the stage of his career where every title defence gets heavier, Thian de Vries is just beginning his ultimate charge. People who’ve followed the circuit for years are willing to bet that the claim about being 'bigger than Rico' isn’t bravado, but a timeline.

It’s not just the physical strength. It’s that look in his eyes when he steps into the ring. It’s the way he takes on every challenge as if he already has the world in his pocket. We have a rich combat sports history in the Netherlands with legends like Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky and, of course, Rico. But if you ask me, we’re now looking at someone who isn’t just continuing that legacy, but putting his own, even fiercer spin on it. Thian de Vries is busy writing a story that we’ll be hearing far beyond Dutch borders in the coming years.