Donovan Wisse acknowledges that his path to GLORY 107 has been met with obstacles. Initially preparing for a move up in weight to face Bahram Rajabzadeh for the light heavyweight title, Wisse now finds himself back in the middleweight division, set to defend his championship against the reigning GLORY welterweight champion, Chico Kwasi. GLORY announced this champion-vs.-champion main event for the April 25th event in Rotterdam, with Kwasi making the move up to challenge Wisse for the middleweight belt.
“Honestly, it’s been a tough journey,” Wisse admitted. “I was planning to move up in weight, and now I have to cut back down to middleweight. The training camp has been good, but the weight cut has been a bit frustrating. Nevertheless, this is part of the sport. Nothing is guaranteed until you step into the ring.”
Donovan Wisse Embraces the Grind of a Title Fight: “I Know How to Handle Pain”
Wisse believes that Kwasi presents a distinct challenge compared to his recent opponents.
“He throws punches from all sorts of angles,” Wisse explained. “Sometimes when he unleashes his combinations, you find yourself thinking, ‘What was that?’ It’s difficult to find sparring partners who can replicate his style due to his long reach and unconventional techniques. However, we are sharp, our timing is on point, our vision is clear, and we are ready.”
Despite the last-minute change in opponent, Wisse emphasized that his long-term ambition remains unchanged: he still aims to become a two-division champion.
“I still intend to move up. I still want both titles,” he stated. “If I had known about fighting Chico eight weeks prior, my training would have been significantly different. But I’m very close to my goal now, and I will make weight. That won’t be an issue.”
Wisse, already considered by many to be the most accomplished middleweight champion in GLORY history, attributes his success to a straightforward mentality: victory.
“I’m not in this sport to just participate,” he declared. “My objective is to win. Everything I do is for the win. My mindset is that of a winner. I want to demonstrate to all my opponents in every fight that I am superior to them.”
This winning mindset was evident in his previous fight against Michael Boapeah, a bout where Wisse revealed he had to push through significant injuries to secure the win.
“Yes, I was injured. My calves were swollen and bruised. He inflicted considerable damage with his calf kicks. But I know how to endure pain. I tell my students and myself: pain is pain. Pain can be beneficial. I don’t ‘love’ pain, but I understand how to manage it. It doesn’t deter me.”
Beyond the ring, Wisse is actively developing his Dream Chaser initiative, which focuses on nurturing fighters and organizing events, particularly in Suriname. He also shared his experiences visiting schools and reading to children, highlighting the importance of being a positive role model.
“Principals and teachers invite me to read to the children, and it’s rewarding to be a figure for them,” Wisse said. “Many of them recognize me from television because their parents watch my fights. That’s a special connection.”
When asked for advice for young people who look up to him, Wisse stressed the importance of discipline, patience, and family guidance.
“Listen to your parents, be patient, maintain a positive outlook, and train diligently,” he advised. “Whatever you pursue, extract the maximum possible from it. I am not doing this for leisure; this is my life, and I cherish 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. The event is set to take place on April 25th in Rotterdam, Netherlands. This bout came about after Wisse’s planned light heavyweight title fight against Bahram Rajabzadeh was cancelled, leading to this champion-versus-champion showdown with Kwasi moving up in weight to challenge for the belt.