Glory: The Moroccan Tarik Khbabez deposed! His title withdrawn after a "refusal to fight

The global kickboxing organization has officially declared the light heavyweight title vacant, stating that Tarik Khbabez had rejected a title defense against Azerbaijani Bahram Rajabzadeh. To address this absence, Glory has scheduled a top-level duel for the Glory 107 event, scheduled for April 25 in Rotterdam. This fight will pit Rajabzadeh against Donovan Wisse, the current middleweight champion, who will attempt a rare feat of unifying the titles of two categories, a performance not seen since the departure of Alex Pereira.

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The Moroccan fighter immediately contested the league’s version, denying any categorical refusal. Khbabez, who had won the title by beating this same Rajabzadeh last October, explains that he is still recovering from a hand injury and disagrees with the proposed financial conditions. "Sporting fairness must not be sacrificed for the sake of commerce," he hammered, arguing that his recently defeated rival did not deserve an immediate rematch without having proven himself again against other contenders in the division.

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The management of Glory, through the voice of Marshall Zelaznik, justified this drastic decision by the need to impose more regular title defenses. The organization claims to have done everything to ensure that Khbabez was ready for the April deadline, but faced with the deadlock of negotiations with the champion, it chose to prioritize the activity of the category by organizing this clash between the number one challenger and the champion of the lower division.

Considering himself "sidelined" without respect for his past commitments and his risk-taking, the Moroccan deplores the treatment reserved for champions, underlining the financial precariousness of athletes despite the physical risks involved.