http://linkis.com/SportsBlog.com/zAsfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEIlBcIq33M He starts with talking about Vlad at around 9:00.
Weird.... I was just thinking about Rico, and the fact he spars with Tyson earlier. RV is an excellent kickboxer. I called it years ago that he was the heir to the HW kickboxing throne. I remember a while back Fury, and Daniel Ghita had a little bit of online beef, with Fury pointing out his losses to Verhoeven. Funny times.
I guess it must be hard for Tyson to find sparring partners around his size. Rico's got good hands, I wonder If he ever considered making a go at boxing. I've seen all his Glory fights and I definitely would miss him there plus I've seen him in clips grappling and always just assumed he'd make the MMA transition some day like Joe "Stich 'em Up' Schilling. I like when he was ask how he'd fight Vlad and he said "kick him in his leg"
HW kickboxers have been some of the most used sparring partners for heavyweights in recent years. There are lots of talented in shape heavyweight kickboxers, who are relatively unknown and can give good sparring for cheap. Rico is a class guy, good sense of humor... Possible we see Rico turn over at some point, but at the moment he has incentive to stay in kickboxing considering he's at the top.
Peter mentioned that it is indeed difficult to find good sparrings at that size, both for them and the Wlad team, so it was pretty much a race to take the best first. He also said unbeated young kickboxers are much better than old veteran sparrings, because those ones come just to take money quick, while the unbeaten prospects are hungry and wants to prove themself.
:deal Kickboxers / Thai fighters are used heaps in Australia - probably to the deteriment of boxing for the purists. The fact is many an Australian show would have gaping holes in them if it wasn't for kickboxers stepping up. You guys probably know already Aust. HW title was just contested between two former kick boxers Ben Edwards and Peter Graham with Graham coming on top.
