Badr Hari: ‘Quitting Is Not In My Vocabulary’

Fez – With his fight against Dutch kickboxer Alistair Overeem quickly approaching, Moroccan kickboxing champion Badr Hari broke his silence regarding his future plans, stressing that retirement is not on the table.

Speaking at the pre-fight press conference held on Tuesday, “the Golden boy,” as many kickboxing fans nickname Hari, emphasized that he remains passionate about the sport and the chance to face strong opponents.

“I feel strong. I feel determined. I feel hungry. And I still really enjoy my sport. I go to the gym, with a lot of happiness […] I’m not even thinking about quitting,” Hari said.

He went on to underscore that fighting constitutes a large chapter of his life, as it has shaped his personality and character.

“A fighter stays a fighter,” outlined the Moroccan kickboxer, indicating that “quitting” is not in his vocabulary – at least for the meantime.

Last month, Glory, the world’s leading kickboxing league, announced the return of the Moroccan fighter to the ring after a months-long absence.

The heavyweight kickboxer will face off against the Dutch kickboxer Alistair Overeem in the world’s kickboxing league, known as “Glory Collision 4,” on October 8, in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Speaking about the highly anticipated fight, Hari said that he would be “ready to die” in order to defeat his Dutch contestant.

Long before their potential kickboxing match, the two veteran fighters squared off in 2008 and 2009 when both men were tied at 1-1, making the upcoming match a game-decider for the fighters.

Beyond ending their long-running draw, both heavyweight kickboxers possess conflicting feelings about the match.

For the 42-year-old Dutch fighter, it serves as a golden opportunity to mark his debut in the world’s kickboxing league by defeating one of the most crowned fighters in kickboxing history.

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Moroccan fighter aspires to put an end to his recent cycle of bad performances by making a long-awaited comeback to his previous victories.

Hari’s recent fights did not end as his fans had hoped. The Moroccan kickboxer lost 6 out of 7 fights, and his last kickboxing bout against Arkadiusz Wrzosek was canceled, as violence broke out between the fighters’ fans.