GLORY has announced the addition of three elite fighters to its roster of world-class talent. Hesdy Gerges and Ben Edwards will join the heavyweight division while Gesias ‘JZ’ Cavalcante will enter the lightweight ranks.
Hesdy Gerges (42-12-1, 19 KO’s) is the former heavyweight champion of Its Showtime, formerly Europe’s top kickboxing organization before being absorbed by GLORY in 2012.
The 29-year-old came up via Amsterdam’s Chakuriki Gym, formerly the home of Peter Aerts, and now fights out of the Vos Gym, where he is coached by Remy Bonjasky’s trainer Ivan Hippolyte. Gerges holds wins over Daniel Ghita, Badr Hari and Ruslan Karaev.
Ben ‘The Guvner’ Edwards, (36-8-2, 32 KO’s), fights out of the Bulldog Gym in Canberra, Australia. A former professional rugby player, he took up kickboxing ten years ago and has won two ISKA titles. He also has a 3-0-1 professional boxing record.
A big hitter, Edwards, 28, holds KO wins over the likes of Mighty Mo, Raul Catinas and fellow GLORY heavyweight Daniel Sam. In 2010 he stopped three opponents in a combined 3:28, breaking Jerome Le Banner’s long-held record of 4:04.
‘JZ’ Cavalcante, 30, is a training partner of Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem and others at The Blackzilians team in Florida, USA. He is well known in the MMA world for his fights in the Strikeforce and DREAM organizations.
Cavalcante has had one professional kickboxing match, losing a decision to top-ranked Japanese fighter Masato in a 2007 fight in Tokyo. His 17-7-1 record in Mixed Martial Arts includes victories over Nam Phan, Bart Palazewski and TJ O’Brien.
Gerges enters the rankings at #13 while Edwards slots in one below him at #14. Cavalcante is not yet ranked. GLORY debut dates and opponents for all three combatants will be announced in the near future.
GLORY’s next event takes place Saturday, September 28 at the Citizens Bank Arena in Los Angeles, California. The stacked GLORY 10 card includes a one-night, four-man middleweight tournament and a heavyweight superfight between Jerome Le Banner and Sergey Kharitonov.
