Exclusive | Tessa De Kom: “A Girl Can Kick Your Ass” – The Rise of Kickboxing’s Next Big Star
Tessa De Kom has already carved out a name for herself as one of the most promising kickboxers in the world. The Dutch fighter, who holds both the Enfusion Women’s Strawweight and RISE Women’s Flyweight titles, is preparing for a showdown at RISE 184 in Tokyo on December 15, 2024, where she will defend her Flyweight title against the dangerous knockout striker Arina Kobayashi.
Tessa De Kom vs. Arina Kobayashi
For Tessa De Kom, this fight is of years of hard work and dedication. “I think this is my biggest fight so far, so I’m really looking forward to it. And yeah, it’s a really good opponent—she’s very strong, aggressive. It’s going to be a very tough and hard fight,” De Kom says. However, despite the tough challenge ahead, she’s never felt more confident in her abilities. “I trained really, really hard for it, but I’ve never felt so good about a fight before. So, yeah, I think I will be at my best,” she adds.
The preparations for this title defense have been intense. Tessa De Kom’s training camp may have been shorter than usual, but she’s made every session count. “It’s a short preparation, but I think, because of the preparation before, it doesn’t matter. The ideal schedule is a training camp of six to eight weeks, I think. But yeah, when there’s a chance like this, I can’t say no—I have to go.”
“A Girl Can Kick Your Ass”
In a sport dominated by men, Tessa De Kom explains her attitude. “Well, don’t be scared that they’ll look at you differently or say, ‘Yeah, you’re a girl; you punch like a girl.’ Just say, ‘Yeah, I punch like a girl, and a girl can kick your ass!’ Every girl can do that. If you want to go to kickboxing, you should really do it. You’ll feel great about yourself.”
And her confidence isn’t just limited to her words—she’s also put in the work to back them up. Her professional record stands at an impressive 14-3, capturing both the Enfusion Women’s Strawweight and RISE Women’s Flyweight titles along the way. In fact, when asked about her recent success, Tessa De Kom notes, “I feel really good. But, there are always some points that need to be better, so we need to work on that. But overall, I feel happy that everything went so well. Yeah, I think it was like a dream.”
But it’s not all about the fight. De Kom is balancing her demanding training schedule with her education, as she’s currently in finishing her final year of studying sports marketing and management at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. “Yeah, it’s a lot, but both are important. If I had to choose right now, I’d say the fight is more important to me. But I told that to my teacher yesterday, and he wasn’t so happy about it,” she admits with a laugh.
Sleeping with the Belt
The champion keeps her RISE title close, even if it means a bit of discomfort. “At first, I had it just next to me in my bed. Yeah, I slept with it. But then I realized the material was very cold, so when I’d turn around and feel it at night, I’d wake up. That wasn’t the best place for it. So, I put it in the gym where everyone can see it. I hope it motivates people. It also motivates me during training when it gets tough—I just push harder.”
Her next fight will be in Japan, a place that holds a special place in De Kom’s heart. “It was really good. The people were very nice and helped me with everything. It’s a shame I couldn’t stay longer, but this time I will, so I can see more of the country and visit different cities.” The trip is also a reminder of how far she’s come since her early days in kickboxing. “When I first heard about this opportunity, I felt like, ‘Huh? Did I hear that right?’ But yeah, it was really cool.”
As for the future, De Kom is focused on defending her title and continuing to prove that she belongs at the top of the kickboxing world. “My game plan is to win, of course. But I don’t want to say too much about it. I will be more powerful, and I won’t back down,” she says, her confidence unwavering.
When her hand is raised in victory at RISE 184, it will be just another chapter in a story that is only getting started for Tessa De Kom.
