Holzken on Groenhart: “He talks with his mouth, I talk with my hands”

“Two or three hundred friends” will form the vanguard of Nieky 'The Natural' Holzken's support this Friday as he enters the RAI Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands to defend his World Welterweight Championship in the main event of GLORY 26 AMSTERDAM.

The already-popular champion has become even more popular in his Netherlands homeland recently thanks to being the subject of his own reality show on national network RTL 5. The show, which encompasses as much of his private life and extended family as it his does his professional exploits, has been a big success.

“I was very busy but that [reality show filming[ period is over now. It has been a while. Gor this camp I was training two times a day. By Monday and Tuesday of fight week, just some light shadowboxing to get a sweat on and a lot of rest ahead of the fight on Friday,” he says.

“From [my home city of] Helmond alone there are about 250 friends coming. But there will be many more people coming who I don't know personally, but who are supporters of mine. I don't mind fighting in Amsterdam, for me it's no problem. I fought there many times before and I will have a lot of friends with me in the audience.

“It will be very loud when I come into the arena, ha! There will be a good atmosphere for sure. The Amsterdam crowd is very noisy, maybe the best crowd in Holland.”

Standing opposite Holzken will be Murthel Groenhart, an Amsterdam native and self-professed bitter rival. They fought in 2010 and Holzken took a decision win in the extra round, which infuriated Groenhart. In a pre-fight interview, he said he wants to “take Nieky's head off” in this rematch.

“I didn't see it, I heard about it. I don't watch these kind of videos from my opponents. I think he has a problem with me but I have no problem with him. He talks with his mouth, I talk with my hands. Who will win? We will see. I am looking forward to it,” smiles the enigmatic Holzken.

“I think it will be an exciting fight and a hard fight. I have been training very hard, as always. For me it is an interesting fight. Honestly I dont care who I have to fight. A fight is a fight and an opponent is just an opponent to me. I am a professional.”