Rico Verhoeven’s boxing credentials are being questioned after he was given a world title opportunity in just his second ever professional bout.
The kickboxing icon will face Oleksandr Usyk for his WBC world heavyweight title on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza. He is a monstrous underdog against the Ukrainian, who has been undisputed in two divisions and is only without all the belts due to governing body politics.
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However, Verhoeven will be working with Peter Fury for the fight, the uncle of two-time heavyweight champion Tyson. And new footage shows that Verhoeven goes back a long time with the family, helping the Brit in camp for his first world title fight over a decade ago.
Newly-released footage shows Rico Verhoeven sparring with Tyson Fury
Ahead of his sophomore professional boxing outing against Oleksandr Usyk, Sky Sports Boxing have dug into their vault. They have unearthed and released some previously unreleased footage showing Rico Verhoeven in a sparring session with a young Tyson Fury.
The video is reportedly from Fury’s camp for his 2015 meeting with Wladimir Klitschko, where he won his first world heavyweight title. Much like Verhoeven, he was a massive underdog heading into the fight but managed to overcome a seemingly unbeatable Ukrainian to claim the belts.
Verhoeven has been training with the renowned Peter Fury for years, and was involved in Team Fury for his first run to heavyweight gold. Since the Klitschko win, Tyson has split with his uncle while Verhoeven has remained close with him.
During an appearance on the Ariel Helwani show today, Verhoeven reminded fans that he and Peter Fury have been working together for 15 years, and that he has been boxing for that long.
Rico Verhoeven heaped praise on Peter Fury back in 2015
Back when he was a bonafide member of team Fury, Verhoeven told Sky Sports of the veteran coach: “For me he is so much more than just a trainer. He’s more like a mentor. Because he’s explaining why you should do that. Feinting, stepping to the side, punching.
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“In the beginning my jab was so bad, wasn’t quick enough. He took the time, patient, kept working day in, day out. What you see in the kickboxing part, they’re all stiff, standing there.
Boxing is more light, touching up, moving. It’s totally different and that’s what I try and implement in my kickboxing game. That’s why I think I’m champion. Because not a lot of kickboxers do that.”
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