On 28 February 2026, the martial arts world was focused with full attention on Steenwijk. There, the spectacular kickboxing gala Battle Under The Tower took place – an event that was more than just a series of fights. It was an experience. A fusion of raw sport, pure emotion and an organisation that was right down to the last detail.

With 26 matches on the card, it was immediately clear that this was no average gala. This was ambition. This was vision. This was an evening that breathed energy from the very first bell.

Battle Under The Tower

A map with build-up, tension and class

The evening began with six youth matches in which young talents were uninhibited and hungry to pursue their dreams. Here, the audience saw the future of the sport – fresh, driven and fearless.

This was followed by 12 N-class matches in which fighters fought for recognition and growth. Each round got tougher, each combination sharper. The six C-class matches brought visibly more technical depth and tactical maturity. Here they fought not only with power, but also with insight.

The climax was not long in coming. An explosive B-class match set the tone for what was to come. And then: the A-class main event. Two top fighters, perfectly matched. Strategy against aggression. Timing versus power. The audience held its breath with every exchange. This was high-level kickboxing – intense, intelligent and ruthlessly honest.

Battle Under The Tower

An atmosphere to be felt

What made Battle Under The Tower really special was the ambience. From the moment the doors opened, the venue filled up. No empty seats, no crowd running away – but a swirling mass that lived every second.

The attendance moments created goosebumps. Music boomed through the hall, lights cut through the smoke and with every announcement, the audience exploded in applause. Smiling faces, raised glasses, shoulder-to-shoulder supporters – a community united by sport.

Here people were not just watching. This was where people sympathised.

Battle Under The Tower

Fighters with heart and soul

In the ring, not an inch was given as a gift. High kicks cut through the air, low-kicks clapped audibly, combinations followed each other at lightning speed. From explosive punch sequences – each match had its own story.

What stuck most of all was the commitment. The will to win. The discipline. The sportsmanship afterwards. Here were athletes fighting not just for themselves, but for their team, their supporters and their name.

Batte Under The Tower K.O.

The voice of the evening

A special role was reserved for ring announcer Simon Berendsen. With his powerful voice and flawless sense of timing, he built the tension with every announcement. He gave each fighter a worthy introduction and highlighted sponsors with class.

More than a presenter, he was the conductor of the evening – the one who gave words to the energy in the room.

Ringspeaker Simon Berendsen

More than a gala

When the final gong sounded, the audience remained standing for a while. As if no one wanted it to be over. That says it all.

Battle Under The Tower was not a standard sporting event. It was a celebration of discipline, passion and connection. An evening that proved that kickboxing is alive – and how.

Steenwijk has set the bar high. And if this is the new standard, the martial arts world is eagerly awaiting the next edition.

This was not a gala. This was a statement.

Battle Under The Tower

This message Strength, Character and Class: Battle Under The Tower Overwhelms Holland was first published on KnockOutNieuws.