Rico Verhoeven

Bio

Rico Verhoeven is the most decorated heavyweight kickboxer in history — twelve years as Glory Heavyweight Champion, the kind of reign you simply don't see in combat sport any more. The Dutchman switched to boxing in 2026 for the Glory In Giza spectacle against Oleksandr Usyk, and at 36 with no previous pro boxing record, he gave the unified heavyweight champion a properly uncomfortable ten rounds before losing in the eleventh.

Standing 6'5" with a 79" reach and weighing in at 258lbs for the Usyk fight, Verhoeven's physical advantages were the real story of the night — he used his size, his kickboxer's rhythm, and a long stiff jab to keep the champion on the back foot. He was leading on two of three judges' cards at the time of the stoppage. That's no token effort. That's a man who came to win.

Whether Verhoeven returns to boxing or goes back to defending his Glory crown remains to be seen. What's already certain is that he's the rare crossover athlete who didn't embarrass himself or the sport — he gave Usyk a real fight, took the loss with grace, and reminded everyone that 36-year-old kickboxing emperors with elite athleticism deserve respect, not jokes.