Rico Verhoeven's boxing future after Usyk loss sparks debate

Rico Verhoeven's boxing debut ended in an 11th-round stoppage loss to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, but the Dutch kickboxing star's performance has left observers eager to see him return to the squared circle.

The Ring reports that Verhoeven has appealed the finish from the Pyramids of Giza bout, and the magazine is now polling fans on potential next opponents. Options include a rematch with Usyk, plus fights against former champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

Potential opponents for Verhoeven's boxing return

The poll reflects growing interest in Verhoeven's crossover prospects after he spent 10-plus rounds holding his own against one of the division's elite. Before the stoppage, the 35-year-old Dutchman showed enough to suggest his boxing ambitions extend beyond a single appearance.

Promoter Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants Usyk to face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel while keeping the door open for a Verhoeven rematch. That puts the kickboxing champion in a holding pattern as he weighs his options and awaits the outcome of his appeal.

Verhoeven holds the Glory heavyweight title in kickboxing but made clear before the Usyk fight that he sees opportunity in boxing's richest division. Whether he gets another crack at Usyk or pivots to a different name, his debut performance earned him a second look from the heavyweight landscape.

Source: ringmagazine.com