Moroccan Kickboxer Tarik Khbabez Sets Sights on 2028 Olympic Glory

Tarik Khbabez started practicing kickboxing at a young age. "I started at 9 years old, in a difficult context. My first coach didn’t believe in me, telling me I was too fat to fight. He refused to enter me in competitions. I changed gyms several times to find real support. At 16, I had my first amateur fight, and at 19, I turned professional. It was my way of transforming my life," he confides in an interview with Le Matin.

The Moroccan kickboxer nicknamed "The Tank" has showcased his talent in several rings in Asia and Europe throughout his career. "I’ve had the chance to discover different worlds. Superkombat offered me my first steps in a big arena. With ONE Championship, I fought in Asia, discovered a new culture. Today, Glory allows me to shine on a global scale. Each ring has shaped me, taught me something about myself and about the sport."

The champion also opened up about the difficulties he encountered, especially when he changed weight categories, moving from heavyweight to light heavyweight. "It was a real challenge. In heavyweight, managing weight is simpler, but you face giants of 130 or 140 kg, sometimes over 2 meters tall. In light heavyweight, I have more advantages and I’m aiming for the world title, but it requires iron discipline. I followed a strict diet, fasted, monitored every meal. I train hard while controlling my weight, a real sacrifice for a food lover like me," said Tarik Khbabez.

The one who missed out on participating in the 2024 Olympics in boxing with Morocco says he is determined to try again for the 2028 Olympics. "I was ready for the 2024 Olympics, Glory had given me their agreement. But there were problems: I was asked for an eligibility test against another fighter. When I learned that another Moroccan dreamed of the Olympics, I didn’t want to steal this chance from him, me who has already reached the top. Moreover, they didn’t register my coach, without him, it was impossible for me to participate. Now, my goal is to represent Morocco at the 2028 Olympics," said the champion who also intends to defend his title at Glory 100.

The Moroccan kickboxer, who as a child was fascinated by stars like Mike Tyson and Mohammed Ali, wishes to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation. "There is a pool of talent in Morocco. [...] They just need support and guidance to emerge. Social media is the key: it allows them to be noticed by big organizations. As for me, I want to guide them, open doors for them and give them the tools to succeed," confided "The Tank" who "dreams of returning to Morocco to train young fighters. I want to share everything I’ve learned to help Moroccan talents break through."