Verhoeven cites kickboxing reign to justify WBC heavyweight shot

Rico Verhoeven has defended his pursuit of a WBC heavyweight title shot by comparing his kickboxing dominance to Oleksandr Usyk's boxing achievements. The Dutchman says his 12-year run at the top of kickboxing earned him recognition from the sanctioning body.

“Like what Oleksandr did within boxing, I did within kickboxing for 12 years. Defeat everybody and some people multiple times. The WBC is also the only organisation that looks at kickboxing and Muay Thai. So for them, they recognised and gave me my credentials.”

— Rico Verhoeven, via BBC Sport

What Rico Verhoeven said

Verhoeven is a former Glory heavyweight kickboxing champion who has crossed over to boxing. The WBC sanctions both boxing and kickboxing, a dual role that has drawn scrutiny when kickboxers seek fast-tracked title opportunities. Verhoeven fights at heavyweight in boxing, the division where Usyk currently holds unified titles.

What it moves

Verhoeven's comparison to Usyk will likely draw pushback from boxing purists who question whether kickboxing credentials translate to sanctioning standing. The WBC has not announced a specific pathway or opponent for Verhoeven. His next move depends on whether the organisation grants him a ranking.

Source: bbc.com. Full Rico Verhoeven fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.