Dutch kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven opened up about his decision to step into boxing, his emotional connection to Egypt, and his upcoming historic clash during &ldquo;Glory in Giza,&rdquo; set against the iconic backdrop of the Giza Pyramids.
Nicknamed &ldquo;The King of Kickboxing,&rdquo; Verhoeven enters the fight as one of the most dominant heavyweight champions of his generation, now taking on a new challenge far beyond his comfort zone.
A New Challenge Beyond Kickboxing
Explaining his decision to take the fight at this stage of his career, Verhoeven emphasised his desire for something different.
&ldquo;I was looking for a new challenge. I wanted something new,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Transitioning from kickboxing to boxing is a huge challenge.&rdquo;
He highlighted one of the major differences between the two sports, particularly the increased endurance demands.
&ldquo;Kickboxing is five rounds, now I go to 12 rounds. It&rsquo;s more than double. I can truly say it&rsquo;s a massive challenge.&rdquo;
A Personal Connection to Egypt
Beyond sport, Verhoeven revealed a deeply emotional reason why competing in Egypt means so much to him.
&ldquo;Being here in Egypt feels like a full-circle moment for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My mother was here 30 years ago. She took beautiful pictures here. Sadly, she passed away earlier this year.&rdquo;
He added that he arrived early to reconnect with those memories.
&ldquo;I came early to take the same pictures she took.&rdquo;
Fighting at the Pyramids
Competing in front of one of the world&rsquo;s most iconic landmarks adds another layer of motivation.
&ldquo;The pyramids are one of the Seven Wonders of the World,&rdquo; Verhoeven said. &ldquo;When I heard I would fight here, I thought, &lsquo;This is incredible.&rsquo; It made me even more excited.&rdquo;
The event will take place at the historic Giza Plateau, one of the most symbolic sporting backdrops ever used in combat sports.
Facing the Best in the World
Looking ahead to his opponent, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, Verhoeven acknowledged the scale of the challenge.
&ldquo;Usyk is the man in this sport. He knows everything.&rdquo;
He stressed that the fight is about more than belts or records &mdash; it is about legacy.
&ldquo;This battle is more about legacy. Fighting the best boxer of this generation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I will do my best.&rdquo;
A Historic Main Event in Giza
The clash between Usyk and Verhoeven headlines the &ldquo;Glory in Giza&rdquo; event, part of a global fight week organised by major international boxing promoters, bringing elite fighters from multiple continents to Egypt.
With the ancient pyramids as the backdrop, the bout is being positioned as one of the most unique cross-discipline heavyweight matchups in modern combat sports history.

On Air Now

Non-Stop Music

You May like

Schedule

Non-Stop Music