Rico Verhoeven isn’t just crossing over the sport of boxing for a good time, he’s entering for a long time as the conversations he’s had with organizers suggest his upcoming bout with Oleksandr Usyk is just “one of many.”
The former Glory champion, 36, has long been linked with a move to an alternative combat discipline following sustained success in kickboxing.
Combat sports presenter Ariel Helwani last year suggested a three-fight deal with Francis Ngannou for an event series that would see the fighters compete one leg in kickboxing, one in boxing, and one in mixed martial arts.
The UFC also presenter Verhoeven with a “decent” offer to compete for the Las Vegas-based promotion against American slugger Derrick Lewis at a time in which he was in talks for a February showdown in boxing against Anthony Joshua.
The fight Verhoeven will actually participate in, though, is against Usyk on May 23 and it will take place at the Pyramids of Giza.
For the Dutch striker, though, it is not just about Usyk but the future.
“They want to build up something and create a whole thing,” the fighter said on Tuesday’s The Ariel Helwani Show.
“We start off with this fight but we want to do multiple fights.”
On whether he could fulfil his obligation in boxing, and return to the negotiating table for a shot as a UFC heavyweight, he said: “We’re always open to see and discuss. We’re not super solid on anything. And open for other and different things, especially with what we saw with Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul. They think outside the box. They go left and right, and always open for debate.”
He finished: “I’m still open to do both but the transition from kickboxer to boxing, I’ve been boxing for the last 15 years. The fun thing now — Peter Fury is training Rico — guys, I’ve been training with Peter Fury for the last 15 years, back in the day, coming as a sparring partner for Tyson Fury, and just being there constantly, putting in the work and turning into a training partner.
“That’s one of the key elements that made me such a good kickboxer.”
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