sky sports Rico Verhoeven, the shock opponent for Oleksandr Usyk’s next title fight, has unearthed never-before-seen footage of him sparring with Tyson Fury, who was then on the verge of beginning his world championship reign.
Fury brought in star kickboxer Verhoeven to prepare for the biggest fight of his career. The Morecambe heavyweight was in camp for his 2015 contest with Wladimir Klitschko.
The fight was Fury’s first world title challenge against a man who had dominated the division for a decade and held the combined WBO, WBA and IBF titles. It was this win that established Fury as the best heavyweight in the sport.
At that time, Verhoeven was already the best heavyweight kickboxer on the planet, and his championship reign in the Glory promotion would last much longer.
He will be an unexpected opponent for Usyk, the Ukrainian fighter who vacated his kickboxing belt last year and will now claim the unified heavyweight world title and put his WBC belt on the line against Verhoeven.
This will be Verhoeven’s second boxing match, his first in 12 years and the first time he fought a boxer who actually won a professional fight.
And in Usyk, he’s not only fighting a journeyman heavyweight, he’s facing the exact opposite. Usyk is the ultimate winner of the sport. He won European, World and Olympic gold medals as an amateur. As a professional, he won two undisputed world championships at cruiserweight and at heavyweight. He has never lost a professional match.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Muay Thai fighter Liam Harrison believes he can’t beat Oleksandr Usyk in boxing, while kickboxer Rico Verhoeven has his eyes set on his next fight.
It is therefore instructive to look at how Verhoeven performed in the ring against Usyk’s closest rival, Fury.
In the past, Verhoeven trained regularly with Tyson Fury and worked out with coach Peter Fury, Tyson’s uncle, who trained him for the Klitschko win in Bolton.
in sky sports‘ Video Fury has just started training camp and is feeling the sparring start.
Verhoeven sparred with Tyson and Hughie Fury, very different fighters to Usyk, but they would have given Verhoeven good experience with boxing footwork and jabs, important components for kickboxers looking to transition to the ‘sweet science’.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
After losing his first two fights, Tyson Fury believes heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will ‘beg’ him for a trilogy fight by the end of the year.
Peter Fury has known Verhoeven for years and will be training him for the fight against Usyk. At the time he said: “Every time he comes and helps with sparring, we teach him a little bit of technical stuff and some boxing skills. Guys like him are a pleasure to work with Rico, because they are disciplined, real fighters, have a lot of heart and are not weak in any way shape or form.
“He’s going to push himself to the limit and that’s what you want from fighters. You don’t want any excuses and that’s why he’s where he is and that’s what’s needed.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Back in 2015, Rico Verhoeven shared his thoughts on Peter Fury and the impact he had on the art of boxing.
Verhoeven explained how the Fury camp benefited him. “For me he (Peter Fury) is more than just a trainer,” the Dutchman said. “He’s more of a mentor because he explains why you should do it: feint, step aside, punch.
“At first my jab was too bad and not fast enough. He took his time, was patient and kept working throughout the day.
“In the kickboxing part, all you see is stiff and standing. Boxing is lighter, hands and moving. It’s completely different and that’s what I try and implement in my kickboxing game. That’s why I consider myself a champion, because there aren’t many kickboxers who do that.”
