Rico Verhoeven has said that his WBC heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk is just the beginning of his professional boxing career.
Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KOs) had a brief touch with boxing in 2014, defeating the little-know 0-5 Janos Finfera by second round knockout in Hessen, Germany. The Dutchman has since gone on the become arguably the greatest kickboxer of all time, defining himself as the longest-reigning Glory heavyweight world champion with 13 title defenses to his name.
The 37-year-old comes in as wildcard in fantasy style boxing match to face arguably the greatest boxer on the planet, in the three-time undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk at The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on May 23. However, Verhoeven has said that his plans in boxing continue beyond a fight that had the help of being put together by actor Jason Statham.
“This is 100 percent just the start of my campaign as a boxer,” Verhoeven said in an interview the Ring Magazine. “I’m here to stay as a boxer and this fight is just the tip of the iceberg, it’s just the start.”
Despite the clear implication to continue his career in boxing, Verhoeven maintained that his focus on the Ukrainian superstar for now.
“For me now I’m just focused on the task that’s ahead and that’s Oleksandr Usyk,” Verhoeven added. “We’ll see what happens after. For me, it’s just now, this is the task, and I want to rewrite history.”
Usyk (24-0, 14 KOs) has come under some criticism for handing the boxing novice a chance considering the vast number of other intriguing matches available to him.
“With the weight difference, as soon as I clip him, he’s going to feel that,” Verhoeven explained. “There’s going to be at least a 20-kilogram difference. I totally understand the whole situation and the dynamic that we’re in. He’s like the unbeatable guy. What an opportunity I have to show that he’s not that unbeatable.
“It’s just a man with two arms and two legs. I’m going to go out there, I’m going to showcase who Rico Verhoeven is.”
