Filip Verlinden Crowned ISKA World Cruiserweight Champion in Belgium

Belgian Star Defeats Italy’s Luca Ventarato to Capture World Championship Gold

PUTTE, Belgium — June 6, 2026 — Bulldog Gym presented an exciting night of championship kickboxing action as Saturday Fight Fever took place at GC Klein Boom, featuring an ISKA World Championship main event.

The headline bout saw Belgium’s Filip Verlinden face Italy’s Luca Ventarato for the ISKA World Cruiserweight Kickboxing title at 88.5kg.

Competing in front of a supportive home crowd, Verlinden delivered a strong performance over the course of the contest, earning a unanimous decision victory after the scheduled rounds. The win secured the ISKA World Cruiserweight Kickboxing Championship and marked a major achievement in the Belgian fighter’s career.

Ventarato entered the bout representing Italy and challenged for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles, but Verlinden’s performance proved enough to convince all three judges and secure the world championship victory.

The title fight served as the centerpiece of Saturday Fight Fever, highlighting the high level of international kickboxing talent competing under the ISKA banner and providing fans with another memorable night of championship action.

With the victory, Filip Verlinden becomes the new ISKA World Cruiserweight Kickboxing Champion at 88.5kg, adding world title honors to his résumé and giving Belgian kickboxing another champion on the international stage.

Only weeks later, on May 1st, 2026, Takeru officially announced his retirement from professional competition during a press conference in Tokyo, closing the chapter on one of the most celebrated careers in modern striking sports.  

With his induction into the ISKA Modern Hall of Fame, Takeru Segawa’s legacy as one of kickboxing’s true all-time greats is now permanently cemented in combat sports history.