Rico Verhoeven Announced Plans for Boxing Return
The 37-year-old fighter intends to continue boxing following his May 2026 match against Oleksandr Usyk.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Boxing
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Rico Verhoeven has confirmed his intention to return to professional boxing through an Instagram post. This follows his performance against Oleksandr Usyk, which ended in an 11th-round TKO in May 2026.
Why it matters
Verhoeven is seeking to extend his career after a high-profile loss to Usyk, despite having limited professional boxing experience prior to that bout. His announcement comes as the boxing world also navigates significant uncertainty regarding other major matchups.
Verhoeven, 37, faced Oleksandr Usyk in a fight where judges recorded scores of 96-94 and 95-95 before the bout was stopped in the 11th round. His professional boxing history includes just one other fight in 2014.
The players
Rico Verhoeven
He is a 37-year-old professional fighter who recently challenged Oleksandr Usyk in the boxing ring.
Oleksandr Usyk
He is a professional boxer who defeated Rico Verhoeven via 11th-round TKO in May 2026.
Tyson Fury
He is a professional boxer currently scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua on December 11, 2026.
Anthony Joshua
He is a professional boxer set to face Tyson Fury at Principality Stadium.
The details
Verhoeven indicated his future boxing plans shortly after his high-stakes encounter with Usyk. His return to the ring marks an effort to build on his limited background in the sport, which previously consisted of a single 2014 appearance.
Timeline
Rico Verhoeven competed in his first pro boxing fight in 2014.
Rico Verhoeven fought Oleksandr Usyk in May 2026.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are scheduled to fight on December 11, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Verhoeven's return occurs within a volatile boxing landscape defined by the 2014 professional boxing debut of Rico Verhoeven as a baseline for his experience. His commitment to continue signals a departure from his infrequent professional boxing appearances over the past twelve years.
The potential collapse of the December 11 fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua reflects the high degree of uncertainty currently facing major heavyweight matchups. Fans should note that Fury has assigned only a 1% probability to the event taking place.
The takeaway
Verhoeven is betting that his experience against elite talent like Usyk will provide a foundation for his continued boxing career. Fans should remain cautious regarding the status of upcoming high-profile bouts given the ongoing instability in fight negotiations.
What happens next
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are scheduled to fight on December 11, 2026, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, though Fury has expressed significant doubt regarding the event's likelihood.
Further reading
Find more updates and analysis on the Boxing page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LowKickMMA.
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