Rico Verhoeven faces an almighty challenge when he collides with reigning and unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, in just his second professional boxing bout.
However, there is one well-ranked heavyweight that believes that the Dutchman will come out on top.
Whilst recognised as a legendary kickboxer, Rico Verhoeven’s boxing credentials are far less impressive, with his solitary outing coming back in 2014 against a 0-5 Janos Finfera.
Regardless, ‘The King of Kickboxing’ will challenge for the WBC and lineal heavyweight crown against Usyk next month, with the opportunity to become the most inexperienced ruler of all time – trumping Leon Spinks’ record of becoming the heavyweight champion in his eighth fight.
Most of the boxing world is ruling out any chance of an upset, despite Verhoeven’s 60-10 kickboxing record, but New York’s Jarrell Miller, who is rated as the #9 contender with the WBA, told Matchroom Boxing that he is picking Verhoeven to win.
“Rico is very game. He is not no punk. So I’m gonna throw one up in the air and say Rico, man! I came up on the kickboxing scene with Rico Verhoeven, you know, Glory and K-1.
“[He is a] phenomenal fighter, in his respectable sport. If you want to go by the statistics, yes, the fight favours Usyk. Yes, Usyk is supposed to win and all that. Yes, we can say that, but I’m going with my boy Rico, man!”
Usyk-Verhoeven takes place at the Pyramids of Giza on Saturday, May 23, whilst Miller fights Lenier Pero tomorrow night and hopes to secure a fight with Anthony Joshua later this year.
