Dutch kickboxer Ginty Vrede dies at 22

[jean-luc]

Dutch kickboxer Ginty Vrede, who became two weeks ago WBC muay thai world champion in the heavyweight division by defeating Shane Del Rosario in the Las Vegas Hilton, suddenly died (apparently from a heart attack) during a training session Monday 28 in Amsterdam. He was 22.
Here is a link (in Dutch)
http://www.kickbox.nl/index.php?s=&nav=nieuws&nid=1285 http://www.kickbox.nl/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20921&highlight=vegas

[fighterzack]

Jean-Luc,

Very sorry to hear about this, I hate to see a young athlete, kickboxer, die early like this. I could not read the Dutch, I hope he did not have children that also lost a father. Again, my condolences to all who knew him.

The Dutch produce the best kickboxers, per capita, that I have ever seen. I hope to get over to Netherlands/ Belgium again this summer, hope to see you then. Perhaps I can make the fight with Albert Kraus happen again.

[jean-luc]

Meanwhile, I found a few links in English :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginty_Vrede
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=720710
http://muaypride.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/ginty-vrede-wbc-muay-thai-champion-died-at-the-early-age-of-22/
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussion/sport-arts/21233-rip-ginty-vrede.html

I didn't know him personally but I had seen him fight a few times and he was quite impressive. There are videos of some of his fights on youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVt8kc4Y4ss
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ginty-vrede-vs-zimmerman--slamm-3/4251764834
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ginty-vrede-vs-zimmerman--slamm-3/3203400639

P.S. : Hello Zack. Glad to hear about you. Looking forward to see you one of these months in the States (or in Europe if you come here)

[Michael Dean]

Jean-luc, thanks for keeping us up to date on stuff like this, you knowledge and love of the sport is to be admired! My prayers go out to his fans and friends, and family.

Michael Dean