Henri van Opstal

After building up an undefeated record on the Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai scene, Henri van Opstal challenged Martin Akhtar for the WMC World Junior Welterweight (-63.5 kg/140 lb) Championship in Sweden, losing for the first time in his professional career by decision. Afterwards, he began moving up to the weight divisions, settling at middleweight and taking wins over the likes of Harut Grigorian and Denis Schneidmiller while becoming the WMC European Junior Middleweight (-69.85 kg/154 lb) Champion.

He made his K-1 debut at the K-1 World MAX 2010 West Europe Tournament in Utrecht, Netherlands on March 21, 2010, where faced Robin van Roosmalen in the quarter-finals. The bout was ruled a draw after the regulation three rounds and so it went into an extension round to decide the winner, after which van Roosmalen was given the nod and inflicted van Opstal's first loss in three years.[http://www.fansofk1.com/article?aID=3082 K-1 MAX West-Europe 2010 results (Utrecht The Netherlands)] He lost to another future star in Andy Ristie by decision at Fighting with the Stars in Paramaribo, Suriname on August 29, 2010.[http://thescienceof8limbs.com/2010/09/09/slamm-results-plus-photos-at-suriname-fighting-with-the-stars/ Slamm Quick Results Plus Photos at Suriname Fighting With the Stars] Venturing into the shoot boxing rule set, van Opstal received the call-up to his first S-Cup at the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 in Tokyo, Japan on November 21, 2010. He easily outclassed Rhyse Saliba in the quarter-finals, knocking him down inside the opening thirty seconds and causing problems with his boxing throughout the match and winning by unanimous decision. He then lost to eventual champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk by the same margin in the semis, unable to rival the Thai's powerful kicks.{{Cite web |url=http://www.muaythaitv.com/news/buakaw-wins-the-s-cup-n1382.html |title=BUAKAW wins the S-Cup ! |access-date=2013-08-12 |archive-date=2014-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519222834/http://www.muaythaitv.com/news/buakaw-wins-the-s-cup-n1382.html |url-status=dead }}

Van Opstal rematched Harut Grigorian at War of the Ring in Amsterdam, Netherlands on February 2, 2011, losing by unanimous decision but he soon made a successful return to Japan where he would go on to have a string of wins over some of the nation's top middleweights and earn the moniker of "the Japanese Killer". At Shoot Boxing 2011: Act 3 on June 5, 2011, he stopped former boxer Satoru Suzuki with low kicks in round two.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fightjerk.com/2011/06/toby-imada-victorious-rena-kubota-falls.html |title=Shoot Boxing 2011 Act 3: Toby Imada Victorious, Rena Kubota Falls |access-date=2013-08-12 |archive-date=2013-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618064906/http://www.fightjerk.com/2011/06/toby-imada-victorious-rena-kubota-falls.html |url-status=dead }} He then beat Mohammed Aouragh by decision at Muay Thai Mania 4 in Rijswijk, Netherlands on October 23, 2011[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=966:ismael-londt-continues-path-of-demolition-knocks-out-mourad-bouzidi&catid=37:non-k-1 Ismael Londt Continues Path of Demolition: Knocks Out Mourad Bouzidi] before ending the year with a third straight win with a unanimous decision over Akihiro Gono at Shooto the Shoot 2011 on November 6, 2011.[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1010:shoot-the-shootoshooto-the-shoot-results-souwer-gets-revenge-qlionq-and-bovy-score-upsets&catid=38:asia&Itemid=59 Shoot the Shooto/Shooto the Shoot Results: Souwer Gets Revenge, "Lion" and Bovy Score Upsets]

In his first and only appearance in the It's Showtime promotion, van Opstal lost to Hafid el Boustati by unanimous decision at It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden in Leeuwarden, Netherlands on January 28, 2012.[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1238:its-showtime-badr-hari-vs-gokhan-saki-live-results&catid=39:europe&Itemid=59 It's Showtime: Badr Hari vs. Gokhan Saki Live Results] Replacing Vahid Roshani,[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1552:roshani-out-van-opstal-in-against-hinata-kenji-vs-franck-gross-added-to-rise-88&catid=37:kickboxing Roshani Out, Van Opstal in Against Hinata; KENJI vs Franck Gross Added to RISE 88] van Opstal took on Hinata at RISE 88 in Tokyo on June 2, 2012. After an even first two rounds, the Dutchman ended the fight with a high kick nineteen seconds in the third to score something of an upset.[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1606:rise-88-results-komiyama-kamimura-uehara-kenji-lee-van-opstal-score-wins-at-rise-supercard&catid=38:asia&Itemid=59 RISE 88 Results: Komiyama, Kamimura, Uehara, KENJI, Lee, Van Opstal Score Wins at RISE Supercard] In the main event of REBELS.12 & It's Showtime Japan Countdown-2 in Tokyo on July 29, 2012, van Opstal improved to 4-0 over Japanese competition with a majority decision win over Hiroki Nakajima. Nakajima scored early to the body, but his lack of defense allowed van Opstal to find openings throughout the fight and pick apart his opponent.[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1749:its-showtime-japan-countdown-2rebels12-results-van-opstal-hinata-win&catid=38:asia&Itemid=59 It's Showtime Japan countdown-2/REBELS.12 Results: van Opstal, Hinata Win] On October 28, 2012, he faced Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima at REBELS.13 in Tokyo with a place in the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 on the line[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1900:shootboxing-s-cup-2012-andy-souwer-joachim-hansen-among-participants&catid=37:kickboxing Shootboxing S-Cup 2012: Andy Souwer, Joachim Hansen Among Participants][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1903:japanese-kickboxing-scene-october-preview Japanese kickboxing scene: October preview] and he booked his spot in his second consecutive S-Cup by defeating Nagashima by unanimous decision.[http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1985:rebels13-results-van-opstal-wins-completes-s-cup-field&catid=38:asia&Itemid=59 REBELS.13 Results: van Opstal Wins, Completes S-Cup Field] The 2012 S-Cup was held on November 17, 2012, and van Opstal outpointed tough Thai Bovy Sor Udomson to a unanimous decision in the quarter-finals. He was then set to take on Hiroaki Suzuki in the semi-finals but Suzuki could not continue in the tournament due to injury and so van Opstal instead fought reserve fighter Satoru Suzuki in a rematch. Van Opstal stopped Suzuki for a second time, dropping him twice in under a minute in round one and forcing the referee to call the fight off, setting up a match with his stable mate and mentor Andy Souwer in the final. Souwer beat van Opstal by way of unanimous decision.[http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2049:s-cup-2012-andy-souwer-wins-4th-s-cup&catid=37:kickboxing S-Cup 2012: Andy Souwer Wins 4th S-Cup]

Van Opstal lost to a Japanese foe for the first time at Shootboxing 2013: Act 1 on February 22, 2013, when he dropped a close majority decision to Yoshihiro Sato.[http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2265:ten-kickboxing-fights-to-watch-in-february&catid=34:demo-content Ten Kickboxing Fights to Watch in February][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2319:yoshihiro-sato-wins-at-shootboxing-2013-act-1&catid=37:kickboxing Yoshihiro Sato Wins at Shootboxing 2013 Act. 1][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2347:japanese-kickboxing-scene-february-recap&catid=38:asia&Itemid=59 Japanese Kickboxing Scene: February Recap] On March 24, 2013, van Opstal participated in an eight man tournament to crown the WMTA World Super Welterweight (-69.85 kg/154 lb) Champion at Haarlem Fight Night IV in Haarlem, Netherlands.[http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2222:70kg-eight-man-tournament-on-mar-24-with-henri-van-opstal-armen-petrosyan&catid=37:kickboxing 70kg Eight Man Tournament on Mar. 24 with Henri van Opstal, Armen Petrosyan][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2335:march-madness-kickboxing-fights-to-watch-this-month&catid=37:kickboxing March Madness: Kickboxing Fights to Watch This Month] He cruised to decision wins over Kevin Hessling and Maiki Karathanasis in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, and met Armen Petrosyan in a five rounder in the final. Petrosyan caused damage with low kicks over the course of the fight and, after being thrown to the canvas a few times, van Opstal found it increasingly difficult to get up due to his legs being battered and his corner threw in the towel at the end of the third round.[http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2398:armen-petrosyan-wins-haarlem-fight-night-tournament&catid=39:europe&Itemid=59 Armen Petrosyan Wins Haarlem Fight Night Tournament] He made his return to K-1 to compete against Enriko Kehl in the K-1 World MAX 2013 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in Majorca, Spain on September 24, 2013, losing a unanimous decision.[http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2607%3Ak-1-secures-andy-souwer-and-henri-van-opstal-for-k-1-world-max-final-16&catid=36%3Ak-1&Itemid=59 K-1 Secures Andy Souwer and Henri Van Opstal for K-1 World MAX Final 16][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2640:k-1-announces-k-1-world-max-2013-final-16-tournament-fights&catid=36:k-1 K-1 Announces K-1 World MAX 2013 Final 16 Tournament Fights][http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2651:k-1-world-max-2013-final-16-live-results&catid=39:europe&Itemid=59 K-1 World MAX 2013 Final 16 Live Results][http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2013/09/k-1-world-max-final-16-results.html K-1 World Max Final 16 2013 Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120203836/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2013/09/k-1-world-max-final-16-results.html |date=2015-11-20 }}[http://fightsportasia.com/2013/09/15/buakaw-banchamek-returns-to-k-1-world-max-with-a-knockout-with-fight-video/ Buakaw Banchamek returns to K-1 world max with a knockout (with fight video)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917115914/http://fightsportasia.com/2013/09/15/buakaw-banchamek-returns-to-k-1-world-max-with-a-knockout-with-fight-video/ |date=2013-09-17 }}

After his successful boxing career, Henri switched to training others. "It gave me a kick to share my knowledge and transfer it to others."

When after a while he saw people change both physically and mentally, he was certain that this was what he wanted to continue. He decided to delve into training courses so that he could also help people in other specific areas. For example, he has his diploma as a fitness instructor and diploma as a personal trainer and medical fitness.

After these courses he was ready to go for it, he carefully started a number of private lessons and after a while he was able to set up his own bootcamp group. After this fast-growing success, it was time for something new. Since 2015 his own gym ‘HVO-personal training’ was opened. This will mainly be about personal training, including private kickboxing / boxing lessons. But small group training courses and group lessons are part of the program as well. In addition, he also started “GET FIT WITH HVO group lessons” in 2015. {{Cite web|url=http://www.hvopersonaltraining.nl/henri-van-opstal-als-trainer/|title=Henri van Opstal als trainer – HVO Personal Training}}

• Haarlem Fight Night
• Haarlem Fight Night IV 70 kg/154 lb Tournament Runner-up
• World Muaythai Council
• WMC European Junior Middleweight (-69.85 kg/154 lb) Championship
• World Shoot Boxing Association
• Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 Runner-up

{{Kickboxing record start|title=Kickboxing record|record=25 wins (9 KOs), 10 losses, 0 draws}}

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2014-05-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Jay de Veiga || A1 World Combat Cup, First Round || Eindhoven, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 25-10

|-

! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Was unable to continue the tournament because of an injury.}}

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2013-09-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} Enriko Kehl || K-1 World MAX 2013 World Championship Tournament Final 16 || Majorca, Spain || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 24-10

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2013-03-24 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|ITA}} Armen Petrosyan || Haarlem Fight Night IV, Final || Haarlem, Netherlands || TKO (corner stoppage) || 3 || 3:00 || 24-9

|-

! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the Haarlem Fight Night IV 70 kg/154 lb Tournament Championship and the WMTA World Super Welterweight (-69.85 kg/154 lb) Championship.}}

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2013-03-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Maiki Karathanasis || Haarlem Fight Night IV, Semi Finals || Haarlem, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 24-8

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2013-03-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Kevin Hessling || Haarlem Fight Night IV, Quarter Finals || Haarlem, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 23-8

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2013-02-22 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Yoshihiro Sato || Shootboxing 2013: Act 1 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 22-8

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2012-11-17 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Andy Souwer || Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012, Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 22-7

|-

! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 Championship.}}

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2012-11-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Satoru Suzuki || Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012, Semi Finals || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (punches) || 1 || 0:42 || 22-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2012-11-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} Bovy Sor Udomson || Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012, Quarter Finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 21-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2012-10-28 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuichiro Nagashima || REBELS.13 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 20-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2012-07-29 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Hiroki Nakajima || REBELS.12 & It's Showtime Japan Countdown-2 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 19-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2012-06-02 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Hinata || RISE 88 || Tokyo, Japan || KO (right high kick) || 3 || 0:19 || 18-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2012-01-28 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} Hafid el Boustati || It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden || Leeuwarden, Netherlands || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 17-6

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2011-11-06 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Akihiro Gono || Shooto the Shoot 2011 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2011-10-23 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Mohammed Aouragh || Muay Thai Mania 4 || Rijswijk, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2011-06-05 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} Satoru Suzuki || Shoot Boxing 2011: Act 3 || Tokyo, Japan || KO (right low kick) || 2 || 0:36 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2011-02-12 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|ARM}} Harut Grigorian || War of the Ring || Amsterdam, Netherlands || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2010-11-21 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} Buakaw Por. Pramuk || Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010, Semi Finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2010-11-21 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Rhyse Saliba || Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010, Quarter Finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2010-08-29 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUR}} Andy Ristie || Fighting with the Stars|| Paramaribo, Suriname || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2010-03-21 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Robin van Roosmalen || K-1 World MAX 2010 West Europe Tournament, Quarter Finals || Utrecht, Netherlands || Extension round decision || 4 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2010-01-30 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} Denis Schneidmiller || Beast of the East || Zutphen, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2009-11-14 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|POL}} Piotr Kobylański || Beast of the East || Gdynia, Poland || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2007-12-16 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ARM}} Harut Grigorian || KlasH 4 || Oss, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2007-11-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ALB}} Nedrim Ismaili || Shootboxing in the Autotron || Rosmalen, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2007-10-26 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} David || Klash III: Show No Mercy || Sibiu, Romania || TKO || || ||

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB"

| 2006-10-21 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Martin Akhtar || || Sweden || Decision || 5 || 3:00 ||

|-

! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the WMC World Junior Welterweight (-63.5 kg/140 lb) Championship.}}

|-

|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| 2005-11-13 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Moustafa Elfarissi || Time for Action || Nijmegen, Netherlands || Decision || 5 || 3:00 ||

|-

|-

| colspan=9 | Legend: {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{legend2|White|Notes |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{end}}

• [https://archive.today/20130812000804/http://shootboxing.org/new/rank/henri.htm Official Shoot Boxing profile]
• [http://www.hvopersonaltraining.nl/henri-van-opstal-als-topsporter/ Official website]

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opstal, Henri van}}

Category:Living people

Category:1989 births

Category:Dutch male kickboxers

Category:Lightweight kickboxers

Category:Welterweight kickboxers

Category:Middleweight kickboxers

Category:Dutch male Muay Thai practitioners

Category:Sportspeople from 's-Hertogenbosch

Category:Martial artists from North Brabant