Rico Verhoeven’s boxing credentials are being questioned after he was given a world title opportunity in only his second ever skilled bout.
The kickboxing icon will face Oleksandr Usyk for his WBC world heavyweight title on May 23 on the Pyramids of Giza. He’s a monstrous underdog against the Ukrainian, who has been undisputed in two divisions and is just without all of the belts as a result of governing body politics.
Nonetheless, Verhoeven will likely be working with Peter Fury for the fight, the uncle of two-time heavyweight champion Tyson. And latest footage shows that Verhoeven goes back an extended time with the family, helping the Brit in camp for his first world title fight over a decade ago.
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Newly-released footage shows Rico Verhoeven sparring with Tyson Fury
Ahead of his sophomore skilled boxing outing against Oleksandr Usyk, Sky Sports Boxing have dug into their vault. They’ve 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. Very similar to Verhoeven, he was an enormous underdog heading into the fight but managed to beat a seemingly unbeatable Ukrainian to say 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. Because the Klitschko win, Tyson has split together 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’s so far more than simply a trainer. He’s more like a mentor. Because he’s explaining why you need to try this. Feinting, stepping to the side, punching.
“At first my jab was so bad, wasn’t quick enough. He took the time, patient, kept working day in, day trip. What you see within 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 attempt to implement in my kickboxing game. That’s why I believe I’m champion. Because not a whole lot of kickboxers try this.”