Verhoeven is 36 years old, stands 6 feet 5 inches, weighs about 269 pounds, and has built his name in kickboxing. He had 26 consecutive victories in Glory and held their heavyweight title for years. Fourteen title wins. A long reign built on conditioning, knees and combinations thrown with shin guards in mind. None of this transitions neatly into a twelve-round championship bout scored by boxing judges looking for clean hitting, ring generalship and effective aggression.
He has one boxing win. One. Against Janos Finfera, who has never won a fight. This is the full professional boxing resume posted across the ring from Oleksandr Usyk.
Peter Fury insists there will be no embarrassment.
“People need to get behind this fight because I can tell you right now: I’m definitely not going to show up on the world stage (and) embarrass myself, and embarrass my fighter.”
He doubled down.
“My fighter is a serious fighter, so this will be a great fight. Trust me. Usyk is an incredible champion. I respect him as a fighter, a boxer, and I respect him as a person.”
And then the closer.
“And I respect Rico. So I’m going to do my job, and I’m going to enjoy it, and whatever the outcome is, it is.”
This is measured talk, and it should be. Anyone who truly understands how elite Usyk is knows what awaits across the ring. His footwork shifts angles inch by inch, his finesse draws reactions before punches even leave his shoulder, and his jab sets the pace of the round. When you send in a kickboxing champion to solve it, you keep your voice steady. You can’t panic sell.
One sanctioned defense, one pro boxing win, and the WBC calls it special
The WBC sanctioned it by resorting to its “special circumstances” clause, a handy section of the rulebook that tends to pop up when ordinary standards feel uncomfortable.
Heavyweight title shots are usually reserved for ranked contenders who have proven themselves through knockouts. Verhoeven doesn’t have one in box. The WBC decided that one professional fight against a winless opponent was sufficient preparation for a shot at his championship. “Special” seems to cover a lot of ground.
Verhoeven apparently spent time on his sting. Well. He will need one. Usyk’s entire heavyweight run has been built on discipline, angles and a leading hand that keeps opponents reeling. Without a solid forehand, you spend the night reaching out and punching in the air at a moving target.
Kickboxing builds toughness and timing. Boxing exposes technical errors early. A lazy stitch is picked off. A square stance is turned. Miss with the main hand and you eat a counter.
Twelve championship rounds are about ring art and conditioning. You have to hold position, work behind the stitch and keep your feet under you while the other man sets traps.
What happens when Usyk starts to control distance and kick around the front foot? How long before Verhoeven’s position begins to unravel?
Verhoeven’s size will be mentioned. Tyson Fury stepped in heavier and taller and still found himself reaching for Usyk as he ate left hands.
Verhoeven learns on the job.
He also handed over a UFC contract. That detail tells you something about the business calculation. A boxing ring in front of the Pyramids of Giza, a DAZN pay-per-view, a WBC belt on the line. The payday will dwarf anything associated with his lone professional boxing appearance. He didn’t earn it through eliminations or rankings. He accepted the offer when it landed on his desk. And who would blame him?
If a heavyweight champion offers you eight figures to find out if your jab holds up under championship pressure, you sign the contract.
Verhoeven has never shared a boxing ring with anyone close to Oleksandr Usyk’s level.
Peter Fury can tighten a guard. He can drill the stitch. He can make his man work the heavy bag with straight rights and left hooks thrown in sequence. What he can’t give him is twenty professional boxing bouts of scar tissue and in-ring problem solving under intense pressure.
If Verhoeven has any success, it comes early, when his size and strength are still fresh. Once it moves into the later rounds, it turns into a boxing lesson and a manageable night for Usyk.
Usyk is expected to leave with his belt. The real question is whether Verhoeven keeps the distance or discovers how unforgiving elite boxing can be.
Date: 23 May
Start time: 19:00 ET (US ET) / 12:00 UK
Streaming platform: DAZN PPV
Location: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Fight Card: Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven (WBC Heavyweight Title)
