Fans concerned for Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent as training footage emerges

Kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven has shown off his speed in training after landing an opportunity to face Oleksandr Usyk.

But the boxing world is now fearing the worst for the Dutchman, who is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all-time.

Verhoeven will get an opportunity of a lifetime when he takes on the heavyweight division’s finest Usyk in just his second ever boxing figt.

The pair will clash in a blockbuster event in Egypt, with the Ukrainian’s WBC world title surprisingly on the line.

Verhoeven’s domination in the kickboxing ranks is something that he will hope will stand him in good stead to try and launch the best assault possible on Usyk.

He has attempted to show he is already up to the task, with footage posted of him battering the mitts with boxing gloves on.

The 36-year-old showed off the quickest of his hand speed, hitting the pads with short and sharp uppercuts.

But fans who responded in their thousands in the comments, are not too impressed.

Fans’ reaction to Verhoeven’s training routine

Usyk is seemingly an invicible force in the boxing ring right now, and fans are certain Verhoeven won’t be the one to break his streak.

One wrote: “There’s literally no way this guy beats Usyk. His speed is in a different dimension to Usyk altogether.”

Another added: “This dude wouldn’t go the distance with Jake Paul and I really mean it.”

A fan even said: “How is this a sanctioned title fight? He lacks fundamentals.”

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Others were more complimentary, with one writing: “In fairness he does look decent.

A final viewer even suggested: He is faster than Andy Ruiz, his speed will be a problem if he can take Usyk’s power.”

His chances will be deemed fairly low of springing a historic upset, but Usyk will need to remain vigilant and not bring any mistakes.

In 2023, Tyson Fury nearly suffered a catastrophic loss as he was forced to recover from a knockdown to edge ex-UFC superstar Francis Ngannou, who switched to the boxing ring.

Verhoeven’s reason for facing Usyk

The event is set to be one of the biggest commercial prospects on the combat sports calendar, after being proposed by Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh.

And Verhoeven is confident he earned the opportunity thanks to his array of dazzling achievements throughout his career.

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He said: “I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.

“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away the hunger, it strengthened it.

“I wasn’t looking for comfort, so I started looking for the highest challenge available in another world.

“Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.”