Hesdy Gerges has hard words for Chi Lewis-Parry ahead of GLORY 41 showdown

“I'm going to destroy Chi Lewis-Parry at GLORY 41,” says heavyweight veteran Hesdy Gerges ahead of next weekend's showdown with his British rival.

The clash was due to take place at GLORY 40 BRUSSELS in March but was called off just moments before the fighters were due to make their way to the ring.

Gerges (49-18-1, 23 KO's) went into the ring and spoke to the crowd, blaming Lewis-Parry (8-1, 4 KO's) for the cancellation, only for Lewis-Parry to emerge from the backstage area and begin remonstrating with him, leading to chaotic scenes as the two had to be separated.

“I have kept the aggression in me since Brussels and I have really focused, trained really hard. I have put everything into training for this fight, not because he is dead good but because I really want to demolish him, show him that he does not deserve to be in the ring with me or at this level,” growls Gerges.

“I am really going to destroy him. I am looking forward to it, I really cant wait - and my wife [Denise Kielholtz] also cant wait because I am not the nicest guy to be around at the moment!”

Gerges says that his training sessions have been fuelled by anger towards Lewis-Parry for coming out into the arena to argue with him after the fight was cancelled.

“This time I have a different feeling to when I usually fight, this time it is something personal. That guy really disrespected me. He made this into something personal and that's something he would have been better off not doing.

“If he does actually show up and not make excuses then he will not make the final bell for sure. And I think he has to show up because I think he needs the money. So when he does, I will try to end it in the first round. If not that, then definitely the second.”

Gerges and Lewis-Parry meet on the GLORY 41 HOLLAND card on Saturday May 20, with their fight forming the headline bout. That card airs from 19.00 CET in Europe and 1:00pm ET in the U.S, live on ESPN 3.

The action then moves to the GLORY 41 SUPERFIGHT SERIES card, which features Rico Verhoeven vs. Ismael Lazaar and Robin van Roosmalen against Petchpanomrung. That card begins at 9:30pm CET / 3:30pm ET and airs live worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS.