Oleksandr Usyk wants to 'push the boundaries of the sport' | Rico Verhoeven 'not an easy opponent at all,' says promoter
Oleksandr Usyk's promoter Sergey Lapin explains why his unexpected showdown with kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven appealed to the great champion; "He's not an easy opponent at all. He's a powerful puncher and he's comfortable going forward and engaging," Lapin told Sky Sports
Tuesday 19 May 2026 06:22, UK
Until the fight was made no one expected Oleksandr Usyk to fight Rico Verhoeven.
Now on Saturday, boxing's imperious unified heavyweight champion Usyk will fight kickboxing superstar Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt.
It will be a boxing bout, so Verhoeven is venturing into Usyk's world. But the Ukrainian's team insist they are taking him seriously as a challenger.
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Sergey Lapin, CEO of Ready To Fight, Usyk's promotional company, told Sky Sports: "Rico Verhoeven is a strong, physical, and experienced fighter. He's not an easy opponent at all. He's a powerful puncher and he's comfortable going forward and engaging.
"But we clearly understand his style and his strengths. This is not just about power, it's about levels, timing and intelligence in the ring.
"We expect him to come in aggressive and try to impose his physicality. But Oleksandr has faced much more complex challenges in his career, and we are fully prepared for what Rico brings on May 23."
Usyk himself, having dabbled in kickboxing previously, knows and admires the Dutchman.
"Oleksandr has seen Rico Verhoeven's fights before and is familiar with him," Lapin said. "As for kickboxing, at the beginning of his career Oleksandr had some experience in that discipline, so he understands the specifics."
Usyk's boxing resume is unmatched in the era. He won an Olympic gold medal at London 2012, went undisputed at cruiserweight when he beat Murat Gassiev, became the first man to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis when he handed Tyson Fury his first loss. And he reunified the four major heavyweight titles when he stopped Daniel Dubois for a second time last year.
He's never lost a professional boxing bout.
Usyk is now looking to test himself in a different way.
"At this stage of Oleksandr's career it's not about adding something just for the sake of legacy. His legacy is already secured," Lapin explained.
"What matters now is taking on unique challenges that push the boundaries of the sport and create something special for the fans.
"Fighting a top athlete from another combat discipline is part of that. It's about proving adaptability and intelligence, and showing that true elite fighters can operate at the highest level.
"At the same time, we stay focused on boxing and the core goals within the sport."
