Topic analysis

How a kickboxing legend & Statham's pal landed a shot at Usyk

Kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, with just one professional boxing match to his name, has secured an unlikely WBC heavyweight title shot against pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, thanks to a chance encounter with actor Jason Statham—an ally of Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. Verhoeven, a 12-year undefeated Glory heavyweight champion, defends the opportunity citing his combat sports dominance and training under Peter Fury, while noting his unique kickboxing background could give him an edge against Usyk.