{"id":713260,"date":"2026-06-03T20:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713260\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T20:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:06:11","slug":"rico-verhoeven-earns-top-10-heavyweight-ranking-after-oleksandr-usyk-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713260\/","title":{"rendered":"Rico Verhoeven Earns Top-10 Heavyweight Ranking After Oleksandr Usyk Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rico Verhoeven impressed the world in just his second professional boxing match when he gave unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk a scare in Egypt. <\/p>\n

In what was a voluntary defense for the Ukrainian, Usyk took on ‘The King of Kickboxing’ Verhoeven at The Pyramids in Egypt, winning via 11th-round TKO<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Despite the victory, early success for Verhoeven had many people scoring the bout in his favor prior to the stoppage, which came with its own controversy<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Although Verhoeven was not able to snatch Uysk’s WBC crown that was on the line, he has opened up a world of new possibilities for himself, aided by his new heavyweight ranking. <\/p>\n

Rico Verhoeven placed at number 8 in WBC heavyweight rankings\"Usyk<\/p>\n

Usyk vs Verhoeven | IMAGO \/ Middle East Images<\/p>\n

Now with a professional boxing record of 1-1, Verhoeven is considered by the WBC to be the eighth-best heavyweight<\/a> on the planet. His valiant effort has led to increased interest in terms of seeing the Dutchman box again, and his new ranking could indicate this is where his future lies. <\/p>\n

Previous reports indicated that the kickboxing star was once in talks with the UFC over a transition to MMA. However, his next steps are currently unclear. Should Verhoeven take on a contender placed above him in the rankings, he would be facing one of a series of household names in the boxing world. <\/p>\n

Ranked above Verhoeven are: Tyson Fury (1), Lawrence Okolie (2), Moses Itauma (3), Filip Hrgovic (4), Anthony Joshua (5), Frank Sanchez (6), and Deontay Wilder (7).<\/p>\n

Making up the rest of the top 10 are Efe Ajagba at nine and Richard Riakporhe at 10. <\/p>\n

Perhaps the most accurate comparison that boxing fans can draw for Vehoeven’s performance against Usyk is Francis Ngannou’s 2023 challenge against Tyson Fury. Ngannou was also considered to be a novice boxer as he was making the transition to the ring after relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title. <\/p>\n

In a shocking moment, the Cameroonian MMA star knocked down then-champion Fury, but was ultimately edged out via split decision. Following the performance, Ngannou was handed the number 10 ranking by the WBC. <\/p>\n

Following a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua months later, his ranking fell to 24 before eventually being removed from the rankings by the WBC. <\/p>\n

A matchup between Verhoeven and Ngannou has been speculated among combat sports fans; however, it is more likely that the bout would take place in an MMA cage. <\/p>\n

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