GLORY Middleweight Champion Donovan Wisse acknowledges that his path to GLORY 107 has been fraught with challenges. Initially preparing for a move up to light heavyweight to face Bahram Rajabzadeh for the title, Wisse has now shifted his focus back to middleweight for a title defense against the reigning GLORY Welterweight Champion, Chico Kwasi. GLORY confirmed the updated main event for April 25 in Rotterdam as a champion-vs.-champion showdown, with Kwasi moving up to challenge Wisse for the middleweight belt.
“Frankly, the journey has been difficult,” Wisse stated. “I was planning to move up in weight, and now I’m returning to middleweight. Camp has been productive, but the weight cut has been somewhat frustrating. Nevertheless, this is part of the sport. Nothing is guaranteed until you enter the ring.”
Donovan Wisse Embraces the Title Fight Grind: “I Know How to Deal With Pain”
Wisse believes Kwasi presents a distinct challenge compared to his recent opponents. “He throws everything from all sorts of angles,” Wisse observed. “Sometimes when he launches his attacks, you wonder, ‘What was that?’ You can’t really find sparring partners who can replicate his style due to his long reach and unorthodox techniques. However, we are sharp, our timing is precise, our vision is clear, and we are ready.”
Despite the late change in opponent, Wisse emphasized that his ultimate ambition remains unchanged: to secure championships in two weight divisions. “I still intend to move up. I still desire both belts,” he declared. “Had I known eight weeks prior that I’d be fighting Chico, my training would have been significantly different. But I’m almost there now, and I will make weight. That won’t be an issue.”
Widely recognized as the most decorated middleweight champion in GLORY history, Wisse attributes his success to a straightforward philosophy: victory. “I don’t participate in this sport for leisure. I come to win. Every effort is dedicated to achieving victory. My mindset is one of a winner. I aim to demonstrate to every opponent that I am superior to them.”
This determined mindset was evident in his previous bout against Michael Boapeah, a fight where Wisse confessed he had to push through multiple injuries to secure the win. “Yes, I was injured. My calves were swollen and bruised. He inflicted significant damage with his calf kicks. But I can endure pain. I tell my students and myself: pain is pain. Pain is beneficial. I embrace pain—well, I don’t enjoy pain—but I understand how to cope with it. It doesn’t deter me.”
Beyond the ring, Wisse continues to advance his Dream Chaser initiative, focusing on fighter development and event organization, particularly in Suriname. He also shared his experiences visiting schools and reading to children, highlighting the significance of serving as a role model. “School principals and teachers invite me to read to the children, and it’s rewarding to be a positive influence for them,” Wisse said. “Many of them recognize me from television because their parents watch my fights. That is special.”
When asked for advice for the young people who now look up to him, Wisse stressed the importance of discipline, patience, and family guidance. “Listen to your parents, be patient, remain positive, and train diligently,” he advised. “Whatever you pursue, extract everything you can from it. I am not doing this as a hobby; this is my life, and I love it.”
Donovan Wisse is scheduled to defend his GLORY Middleweight World Title against the current Welterweight Champion, Chico Kwasi, in the main event of GLORY 107, taking place on April 25 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. This bout materialized after Wisse’s initially planned light heavyweight title fight against Bahram Rajabzadeh was canceled, resulting in a champion-vs.-champion encounter with Kwasi moving up in weight to challenge for the belt.
