Boxing Mar 16, 2026

When Tyson Fury sparred 'King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven, Oleksandr Usyk's shock next opponent - new footage found

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
When Tyson Fury sparred 'King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven, Oleksandr Usyk's shock next opponent - new footage found

Your Site has unearthed previously unseen footage of Rico Verhoeven, the shock opponent for , sparring with Tyson Fury who was then on the cusp of starting his own world championship reign.

Fury brought in star kickboxer Verhoeven to prepare for the most important fight of his career. The Morecambe heavyweight was in camp for his 2015 contest with Wladimir Klitschko.

That fight was Fury's first world title shot, against the man who had dominated the division for a decade and held the unified WBO, WBA and IBF titles. It would be the victory that anointed Fury as the best heavyweight in the sport.

At that time, Verhoeven was already the best heavyweight kickboxer on the planet, and his championship reign in the Glory promotion would stretch on even longer.

He only vacated his kickboxing belt last year and now will be an unlikely opponent for Usyk, the Ukrainian who has taken over as the unified heavyweight world champion and will put his WBC belt on the line against Verhoeven.

Verhoeven will be having only his second ever boxing match, his first in 12 years and the first time he has actually fought a boxer who's won a pro fight.

And in Usyk he's not only fighting a journeyman heavyweight, he's taking on the polar opposite. Usyk is the sport's ultimate winner. He has won European, World and Olympic gold medals as an amateur. As a professional he's won undisputed world championships at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight. He's never lost a pro fight.

It's instructive therefore to see how Verhoeven fared in the ring against Fury, Usyk's closest rival.

In the past Verhoeven has trained regularly with Tyson Fury and worked out with coach Peter Fury, Tyson's uncle who trained him for the Klitschko victory in Bolton.

In Your Site' footage Fury has just begun his training camp and is feeling his way into sparring.

Verhoeven sparred with both Tyson and Hughie Fury, very different fighters to Usyk but they will have given Verhoeven good experience of boxing footwork and jabbing, crucial components for a kickboxer looking to transition to the 'sweet science'.

Peter Fury has known Verhoeven for many years and will train him for his fight with Usyk. At that time he said: "Every time he comes over and helps with sparring we just brush him up with a bit of technical stuff and some boxing skills. People like him, Rico, they're a pleasure to work with because they are disciplined and they are true fighting men, plenty of heart, they're not weak in any shape or form.

"He'll push himself to the limit and that's what you want from fighters, you don't want any excuses and that's why he is where he is and that's what it takes."

Verhoeven described how the Fury camp had benefited him. "For me he [Peter Fury] is so much more than just a trainer," the Dutchman said. "He's more like a mentor. Because he's explaining why you should do that. Feinting, stepping to the side, punching.

"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."

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Chantelle Cameron looks to break new ground: 'With three-minute rounds I would have knocked out Katie Taylor!'

Chantelle Cameron looks to break new ground: 'With three-minute rounds I would have knocked out Katie Taylor!'

Chantelle Cameron is set to fight over three-minute rounds, the distance in men's bouts, when she boxes to become a world champion in a second weight...

Chris Eubank Jr could return to a super-middleweight world title fight after middleweight defeat in Conor Benn rematch

Chris Eubank Jr could return to a super-middleweight world title fight after middleweight defeat in Conor Benn rematch

Chris Eubank Jr could return to boxing at super-middleweight with routes to a world title challenge available to him.Eubank Jr has had a long professi...

Fabio Wardley is finalising terms for a WBO heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois on May 9.

Fabio Wardley is finalising terms for a WBO heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois on May 9.

Fabio Wardley is finalising terms for a WBO heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois on May 9.WBO champion Wardley will make the first defence...

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn undisputed championship fight to go ahead despite weigh-in clashes

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn undisputed championship fight to go ahead despite weigh-in clashes

Claressa Shields’ undisputed heavyweight title defence against Franchon Crews-Dezurn will go ahead on Sunday night in Detroit.Shields and Crews-Dezurn...

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao set for professional rematch in Las Vegas in September

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao set for professional rematch in Las Vegas in September

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to renew their rivalry in a stunning rematch in Las Vegas this September.Mayweather, 48, will officially c...

Conor Benn signs to Dana White and Zuffa Boxing for 'legacy fights' after splitting from Eddie Hearn's Matchroom

Conor Benn signs to Dana White and Zuffa Boxing for 'legacy fights' after splitting from Eddie Hearn's Matchroom

Conor Benn has signed to Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, saying he wants "legacy fights" and "the biggest stages".The 29-year-old had been with Eddie Hea...