Pound-for-Pound Stakes: GLORY 100 promises a night of combat sports royalty

Four world title bouts, tournament matchups, and a heavyweight clash between defending champion Rico Verhoeven and former top-ranked pound-for-pound athlete Artem Vakhitov headline the event. Also in the spotlight: pound-for-pound leader Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 defending his title against Miguel Trindade, and middleweight Donovan Wisse aiming to surpass Alex Pereira’s record with a sixth title defense. Independent rankings and expert panels have spotlighted GLORY 100 as a landmark event, set to reshape the kickboxing landscape.

What’s in a Pound-For-Pound Anyway?

When it comes to combat sports, whether MMA or boxing, pound-for-pound is the most contentious topic. Television blocks, podcasts, forums, and more dedicate the majority of their time to arguing about who should rightfully be ranked as a pound-for-pound great.

Most disagreements come down to definition. Originally, it was coined for ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson to explain how, if all these fighters were the same size, Robinson would be the top athlete in boxing. While this middleweight could not directly defeat a heavyweight, if they happened to be the same size then he would be the better boxer.

Skill, regardless of size, was the original meaning behind pound-for-pound. Today, we’ve also added title defences and dominance as a champion to the credentials of the terms. It became a combination of title wins, quality of opposition, and skill, regardless of size. Most arguments come down to what is most valued.

Pound-For-Pound Stakes at GLORY 100

GLORY 100 will feature multiple fighters who are currently top-ranked as pound-for-pound fighters in kickboxing. Unlike the UFC and boxing triple-letter bodies, the sport of kickboxing relies on independent journalists for pound-for-pound rankings. GLORY does not have an in-house ranking system for pound-for-pound.

Beyond Kickboxing has a rankings panel of expert journalists all across the globe who vote on pound-for-pound. According to the independent rankings, GLORY 100 is set to feature three from the top five pound-for-pound talents.

In boxing terms, this would be a one-night fight event featuring Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue, and ‘Canelo’ Saul Alvarez. In MMA terms, this singular event would feature Islam Makhachev, Jon Jones, and Ilia Topuria, competing.

• Read next | Why GLORY 100 is the must-watch event for fight fans with records and reigns on the line

GLORY 100 will see the long-reigning heavyweight king, Rico Verhoeven, number two pound-for-pound, will look to defend his title against former champion, and former top-ranked pound-for-pound striker, Artem Vakhitov. A battle of two kickboxing champions and pound-for-pound talents. Vakhitov was ranked as a pound-for-pound athlete but took a stint in the UFC, going undefeated, before returning to kickboxing. 

Verhoeven first won his heavyweight world title in 2014 and has since defended this crown in an unprecedented 12 matches, in addition to three tournament crowns along the way.

Number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 will look to add his ninth title defence as he faces the knockout striker Miguel Trindade. The Thai-born Petch will look to hold onto his top-ranking spot while Portugal’s Trindade could break into the top ten with a win.

Additionally, the middleweight great Donovan Wisse, of Suriname, is ranked in the top five pound-for-pound and will seek his sixth title defence at GLORY 100. This would surpass the middleweight record set by Alex Pereira. But, it won’t be easy to stop the Ghana-Dutch terminator Michael Boapeah.

As GLORY 100 approaches, kickboxing fans are set to witness a historic collision of technique, legacy, and ambition. With multiple world champions and pound-for-pound elites stepping into the ring. This event goes beyond defending belts - it’s about etching names into the record books and reshaping the sport’s hierarchy for years to come. 

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or a newcomer to the world of elite striking, June 14 promises a night where legends are tested and kickboxing’s future is decided in a flurry of world-class action.