Rico Verhoeven can’t beat Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing ring, but he absolutely deserves this high-profile matchup, says kickboxing legend Liam Harrison.
Usyk stirred the boxing world with a surprising announcement amid a week full of headlines. While Floyd Mayweather resumed his rivalry with Manny Pacquiao in a return bout and Conor Benn made a surprising move to US promoter Zuffa to appear on Tyson Fury’s undercard, Usyk revealed plans to box a kickboxer when he returns.
The unified heavyweight champion will take on Rico Verhoeven for the WBC heavyweight title on May 23 in Giza, Egypt.
Verhoeven does bring boxing experience to the table, but his fame comes from kickboxing, where he’s long been the dominant heavyweight. He holds the distinction of the longest winning streak in Glory history and has competed in MMA and pro boxing, scoring a knockout in each sport’s lone appearance.
Last June, Verhoeven defended his heavyweight title before vacating it, leaving kickboxing with an undefeated record in 66 wins across 76 fights.
Liam Harrison, a British kickboxing icon and Muay Thai veteran who has showcased his skills in ONE Championship, admires Verhoeven but doesn’t expect him to topple Usyk.
Harrison told Sky Sports that Rico would likely need to use leg kicks to create any real advantage against Usyk. “No one can beat Usyk in a boxing match,” Harrison said. “He’s the best heavyweight on the planet, and the best of this era. If Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua couldn’t dent him, I don’t think anyone can.” He added that Verhoeven might need to mix in some leg kicks to have a chance in the ring.
Even so, Harrison acknowledged the rationale behind the crossover bout. He emphasized that Verhoeven is a legend who helped shape kickboxing and deserves big paydays and opportunities to showcase his talents. “It’ll be nice to see,” he said.
promoter Frank Warren, who represents Usyk’s potential challengers Fabio Wardley (Usyk’s previous mandatory) and Agit Kabayel (Usyk’s current WBC mandatory), indicated he expected Usyk to pursue a crossover bout like this. Warren noted Usyk’s ongoing search for valuable fights and lucrative paydays, suggesting he’s aiming to emulate the big, value-driven cross-promotions seen by AJ and Tyson Fury in their recent high-profile matchups.
In Warren’s view, Usyk has already stamped his mark on boxing as a premier heavyweight of the 21st century, and this latest venture appears to be about maximizing earnings and legacy through marquee events.
Thought-provoking questions to consider: Is it fair to test a boxing dynasty with a crossover against a kickboxing champion, or does that undermine the core sport? Should audiences expect more crossovers of this kind, or should focus stay on traditional boxing matchups? Do you think Usyk’s dominance makes him unbeatable, or could a fight like this reveal vulnerabilities? Share your stance in the comments.
