Rico Verhoeven Eyes Immediate World Title Defense Against New WBC Heavyweight Champion

Despite a setback in his bout against Oleksandr Usyk, former kickboxing world champion Rico Verhoeven may soon face another opportunity to challenge for a global title, potentially at a massive 50,000-seat venue.

The 37-year-old demonstrated resilience in May, delivering a compelling performance against the reigning heavyweight champion, Usyk, and narrowly missing a upset victory.

Verhoeven’s professional boxing experience is limited, having faced a 0-5 opponent in 2014, whom he defeated in the second round. However, his track record in kickboxing remains formidable.

His recent clash with Usyk in Egypt highlighted his competitiveness, as he secured a slight lead on one judge’s scorecard despite the Ukrainian’s favoritism. The fight ended prematurely with a 11th-round knockdown, prompting referee Mark Lyson to halt the match.

This accomplishment elevated Verhoeven to No.8 in the WBC rankings, while Usyk’s decision to vacate his titles paved the way for Agit Kabayel’s elevation to undisputed WBC heavyweight champion.

“Holland’s very close to Germany; it’s an hour away. [Verhoeven would] bring massive support, and I think that would fill 50,000 in Germany.

“It’s a sensible fight. I think Oleksandr Usyk won the fight fair and square … [But] I thought [Verhoeven] put up an unbelievable performance. I’d never seen anything like it.”

Kabayel secured his ‘interim’ title by stopping Zhilei Zhang in February 2025, showcasing his strength in body striking. Having previously defeated Damian Knyba in Germany in the third round, the 33-year-old is now focused on defending his new world title.

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