Tarik Khbabez sues Glory, "I need to earn money again
Stripped of his middleweight world title by Glory organization, kickboxer Tarik Khbabez is taking the matter to court. Blocked until 2026, the athlete is demanding contract termination to pursue his career elsewhere.
The split is final. The 34-year-old fighter, a four-time world champion, was supposed to defend his belt Saturday in Rotterdam against Bahram Rajabzadeh. Accused of refusing the fight, he was stripped of his title. A version he strongly contests with Dutch media AD, explaining he rejected inadequate financial and sporting conditions against an opponent he already defeated in October. "I wanted normal negotiations. You can’t just decide in 24 hours to strip someone of their world title," he protests.
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Today, the Moroccan finds himself trapped. While he claims to dismiss the loss of his belt, he wants to continue his career with more lucrative organizations already courting him. However, Glory keeps him bound to his contract running until December 7, 2026. Facing this deadlock, he has hired a lawyer to force his departure. "I have a family. I need to earn money again," the fighter confides emotionally, adding bitterly: "Other fighters are allowed to go elsewhere and they’re putting obstacles in my way."
The matter becomes even more absurd as his Azerbaijani rival was ultimately injured, effectively canceling Saturday’s bout. Facing this withdrawal, the promoter recontacted Tarik Khbabez to fight urgently in exchange for an exceptional bonus. A proposal flatly rejected by the athlete, who demanded a new improved contract and not a one-time bonus. Asked to respond to these mounting tensions, organization boss Marshall Zelaznik refused to comment publicly on an ongoing legal proceeding.
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The urgency is now financial for the athlete, who reminds us that the economic reality of the ring is often precarious. Aware he has roughly four years left at the highest level, he wants to secure his children’s future. Without new opportunities, he’s considering returning to his former job as a firefighter to ensure steady income. Ready to turn the page on five years of relentless commitment to his employer, his final plea rings like a cry from the heart: "Just let me go."
