Rabat – Kickboxing star Jamal Ben Saddik promised his fans today that he will again be their Moroccan champion one day.
The fighter made the vow in the immediate aftermath of his fight against Rico Verhoeven.
Jamal Ben Saddik lost to the Dutch heavyweight champion during a Glory competition on Saturday night.
Despite the defeat, Jamal Ben Saddik earned support and respect for his restraint and persistence in the face of Rico’s strength and punches.
In a post-match statement, Ben Saddik took to social media to thank all his fans and family members for their support, vowing that he will keep on going and “will become your Moroccan champion” one day again.
“It’s been a rough year with a lot of tough battles but we all know nothing in life comes for granted,” the kickboxing star wrote.
Using a picture that showed him praying with Morocco’s flag in the background, the kickboxer said he is grateful for all the lessons he has learned in his personal and professional life.
“Thank you Allah for keeping me safe and teaching me what perseverance and determination is all about. I would also like to thank all the people (family, friends, my new team, fans, …) that always stay by my side through the ups and the downs.. You are all appreciated,” Ben Saddik said.
The Moroccan fighter also thanked Rico Verhoeven for giving him the “opportunity that will surely go down in history as another great one for the heavyweight division, you surely are a warrior and with that said I hope we can bury the bad blood that was there.”
Ben Saddik emphasized that life has constantly taught him lessons that have made him a “better person.”
The Moroccan champion stopped the match yesterday in the fourth round after he did not feel he could finish.
Yesterday was the third time that Rico and Ben Saddik took on each other in the ring.
Ben Saddik defeated Rico in the pair’s first Glory confrontation in 2011. The Dutch champion, however, regained his title after winning the second fight with the Moroccan champion in 2017.
