Rico Verhoeven explains why he chose boxing Oleksandr Usyk over UFC offer, plans to ‘shock the world’
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Rico Verhoeven vacated his GLORY heavyweight kickboxing title and declined a UFC offer, opting instead to transition into professional boxing, aiming to face top heavyweight competition.
- Initially in talks to fight Anthony Joshua, Verhoeven shifted focus to Oleksandr Usyk after Joshua's personal tragedy, arranging a bout against the undefeated boxing heavyweight champion.
- Verhoeven embraces the challenge of facing Usyk in only his second professional boxing match, confident in his skills and eager to defy expectations as an underdog.
- He highlights his diverse combat background and long-term training with the Fury family, emphasizing his desire to break out of the "kickboxing box" and succeed in boxing.
- Looking beyond the upcoming fight in Egypt, Verhoeven is focused on winning the WBC heavyweight title and open to future opportunities in boxing after potentially upsetting Usyk.