Larsen: “Fighting is definitely my drug”

Two years ago, Niclas Larsen (46-8-2, 24 KO's) was lying in a hospital bed and looking up at a doctor who was telling him that with a bit of luck he would be able to save one of his legs from amputation.

Now, having recovered from a virulent and nearly lethal recurrent staph infection, Larsen is – unbelievably – back to competing at the top level. This Saturday night he goes into the Lightweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 42 PARIS and looks to take a decisive step closer to a title shot.

Opposite him in the semi-finals is newcomer Stoyan Koprivlenski (7-0, 3 KO's), called up after a standout performance on the GLORY 41 HOLLAND card last month. The other semi-final has Chris Baya (57-5-1, 34 KO's) against Anatoly Moiseev (19-2, 5 KO's).

The two victorious semi-finalists will then meet in the final later that evening; the winner of that fight will face #1 ranked Marat Grigorian later this year and, if successful in that fight, will get a title shot.

“I want to fight everyone, face all the different styles. Grigorian is a very nice fighter, he always brings a good show. I want to get the belt and be the title holder for a long time and show that I can be the defending champion,” says the likeable Dane.

“And I feel that I am on the right track, everything is going good right now. 2-0 this year and now the tournament, I could not wish for anything better right now. But right now I am not thinking about the title or anything else except the tournament.”

Larsen likes what he has seen of Koprivlenski (“He likes to come forward and that's perfect for me.”) and also appreciates the full-power approach of the two fighters in the other bracket.

“Moiseev and Baya are two hard style fighters and I like watching them both. They are going to go really hard on each other If they go three rounds with each other at full power then I don't have a problem with that, that's good for me!” he laughs.

And while he doesn't mind his rivals softening each other up in the semi-final stage, Larsen definitely does relish a challenge.

“I think all of these guys can bring the best out of me. I think its going to be a very good tournament for me. I like fighting in tournaments - I have done two eight-man tournaments in the past and won both with KO's in every single fight. I like the adrenaline rush; you go backstage after your first fight but the adrenaline doesn't go away, you have to be ready for your next one,” he explains.

“This is definitely my drug. I have so many emotions when I am about to fight, everything is pumping. I look calm because I am just being there, enjoying the moment and putting it all together in the ring, letting my mind play the game.

“It's really a pleasure for me when I can fight and do the things I love. When I fight I feel I can some way express myself and show me as a person. I like to create and when I get an opponent who is very sharp and challenges me, that makes the best version of me.

“I love this because it develops me as a person and as a human. The better opponent I get the deeper I have to dig and find some things of me that I didn't know. It's not often you get those opportunities in life, to dig into yourself so deep and find aspects to your mind and spirit that you didn't know you had.”

GLORY 42 PARIS takes place this Saturday night at the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris, France. The main event features welterweight champion Cedric Doumbé defending his belt against former champion Nieky Holzken in a highly-anticipated grudge rematch.