On Sept. 27, 2025, an exciting Enfusion kickboxing event took place in Tilburg, where the confrontation between Thian de Vries and Kevin Van Heeckeren undoubtedly caught the attention of the audience.
What initially looked like a promising and attractive match took a dramatic turn early on for Thian de Vries. During the first round, on what should have been a powerful opening shot with his left hand, he suffered a serious injury. He reportedly broke his hand on that first stroke, which would dramatically affect the rest of the match.
Despite this setback, which would have meant the end of the match for many, Thian de Vries showed unprecedented resilience and perseverance. He was forced to fight the entire remaining kickboxing match, and thus almost the entire second round, using mainly his right hand. A huge handicap, especially considering that kickboxing is a sport that calls for a balanced distribution of punches and kicks with both limbs. Nevertheless, against all odds, Thian de Vries still managed to force a K.O. in the second round and take the victory.
After the grueling match it only became clear what was really going on with his left hand. The pain was clearly felt and visible, explaining why he used his left arm so reluctantly throughout the match. Immediately after leaving the ring, Thian was transferred to the hospital for further examination. X-rays confirmed the suspicion: Thian de Vries had sustained a severe double fracture in his hand and would need surgery to repair the injury.
The triumph of victory was overshadowed by the realization that Thian de Vries would be forced to rest and recover for the foreseeable future. This inevitably meant that he had to cancel his already scheduled and announced races. One of the most disappointing cancellations was his scheduled November appearance in Japan, where he was to face Liu Ce. Hopes are now pinned on a speedy recovery so that Thian de Vries will be able to compete in the prestigious 8-man tournament in February 2026, also in Japan. His fans and the kickboxing world in general fervently hope that he will be fit and ready to fight again by then. It will be a race against time, but with the resilience he showed in Tilburg, nothing seems impossible.
