Rico Verhoeven is walking into one of the wildest heavyweight matchups in recent memory — and the betting odds tell the full story. The Dutch kickboxing icon is currently listed as a massive underdog against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, with most sportsbooks pricing Verhoeven around 9.00 to pull off the upset.
Meanwhile, Usyk sits as an overwhelming favorite at approximately 1.04. That number effectively gives Verhoeven barely an outside chance of victory. Before bookmaker margin is factored in, the odds suggest the GLORY heavyweight king has roughly an 11% probability of winning. Still, heavyweight boxing has always been the land of chaos. And some respected names believe Rico Verhoeven might be far more dangerous than the market suggests.
BC Game Odds Paint A Brutal Picture
The latest betting lines from BC Game heavily favor Usyk across nearly every major market.
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oleksandr Usyk to win | 1.05 |
| Rico Verhoeven to win | 10.0 |
| Over 5.5 rounds | 1.87 |
| Under 5.5 rounds | 1.87 |
| Fight goes the distance — Yes | 5.2 |
| Fight goes the distance — No | 1.14 |
The numbers suggest bookmakers expect Usyk to dominate and likely finish the fight inside the distance.
That is hardly surprising considering the Ukrainian enters the bout as one of the most technically gifted heavyweights of this era. Usyk has already beaten elite names such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois while establishing himself as the lineal heavyweight king.
Verhoeven, on the other hand, is stepping into only his second professional boxing bout.
Can Rico Verhoeven Really Pull Off The Upset?
On paper, the challenge looks borderline impossible.
While Verhoeven owns a phenomenal 60-10 record in kickboxing and has dominated GLORY for years, professional boxing is an entirely different sport. His lone boxing appearance came back in 2014 against Janos Finfera, who entered that fight with an 0-5 record.
Now he is suddenly fighting arguably the best heavyweight boxer on the planet.
That said, several fighters and analysts believe dismissing Verhoeven entirely would be a mistake.
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently explained that Rico’s size, athleticism, and raw punching power give him “a chance” against Usyk, even if the matchup still heavily favors the Ukrainian superstar.
That opinion reflects the wider expert consensus surrounding the fight.
Most analysts agree Verhoeven possesses enough physical tools to make things uncomfortable early. He is naturally huge, durable, aggressive, and accustomed to fighting elite-level heavyweights under bright lights.
But skill-for-skill?
Most previews still lean decisively toward Usyk because of his elite footwork, ring IQ, defensive movement, and championship-level boxing experience.
Jarrell Miller Backs Rico Verhoeven To Shock The World
Despite the lopsided odds, not everybody is siding with Usyk.
WBA heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller has publicly backed Verhoeven to pull off the upset when the pair collide at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23.
Speaking to Matchroom Boxing, Miller explained why he believes the kickboxing legend should not be counted out.
“Rico is very game. He is not no punk. So I’m gonna throw one up in the air and say Rico, man! I came up on the kickboxing scene with Rico Verhoeven, you know, Glory and K-1.”
“[He is a] phenomenal fighter, in his respectable sport. If you want to go by the statistics, yes, the fight favours Usyk. Yes, Usyk is supposed to win and all that. Yes, we can say that, but I’m going with my boy Rico, man!”
That is high praise from a seasoned heavyweight who has shared the ring with some dangerous fighters himself.
Still, even Miller acknowledged the obvious reality — statistically and stylistically, Usyk should win this fight.
Why This Fight Is Fascinating Anyway
Even with the betting odds heavily tilted toward Usyk, the matchup remains fascinating because of the unknown factor surrounding Verhoeven.
Combat sports history is filled with crossover fighters who were supposedly “outclassed” until their size, power, or pressure suddenly changed everything.
And Verhoeven is not arriving as some random celebrity boxer.
He is one of the most accomplished heavyweight kickboxers ever.
The Dutchman has spent years fighting elite strikers with terrifying knockout power. He understands distance, timing, pressure, and composure at the highest possible level.
The problem? Usyk is a boxing genius.
The Ukrainian’s movement, angles, and ability to mentally break opponents apart over rounds are what separate him from almost everybody else in the division.
That is why sportsbooks still price Verhoeven as a major outsider despite the intrigue surrounding his power and physicality.
Final Verdict
Rico Verhoeven absolutely has the kind of heavyweight power and athleticism that can create drama.
But according to both bookmakers and most experts, defeating Oleksandr Usyk would still rank as one of the biggest crossover upsets combat sports has seen in years.
The consensus remains clear: Verhoeven is dangerous enough to matter, but Usyk is overwhelmingly expected to leave Egypt with his heavyweight crown intact.
Still, heavyweight boxing only needs one punch.
And that is exactly why fans cannot stop talking about this fight.
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