Rico Verhoeven is almost universally recognized as the top pound-for-pound kickboxer on the planet but he would love to add to his accolades with a crossover fight against a former UFC champion.
Following Francis Ngannou’s dominant win over Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut, there were immediately questions about who he might fight next and what sport would interest him most. While MMA has been Ngannou’s primary focus, his passion for boxing led to a pair of fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and he’s already stated that he wants to return to that sport in the future.
It might be tough to imagine Ngannou getting another top ranked boxer with an 0-2 record thus far but Verhoeven believes he would be the perfect opponent to welcome “The Predator” back to the ring.
“100 percent, I think it definitely sparks the interest for me but also the fans,” Verhoeven told MMA Fighting about the potential fight against Ngannou. “Because it’s so, so different. We’re both standup combat sports champions and the most complete. He’s an MMA fighter, I’m a kickboxer and yeah, we both know how to use our hands and our feet. So how cool would it be to get those words together?
“Instead of just the boxers or just an MMA fighter going into boxing. No let’s get an MMA fighter against a kickboxer and we can do that in different weight classes. But especially in the heavyweight division, that’s what everybody wants to see. It’s the most entertaining as well.”
On Saturday, Verhoeven has his own test awaiting him as he faces Levi Rigters in a rematch from the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix finals that took place earlier this year. That fight came at the end of a one-day tournament with Verhoeven ultimately scoring four knockdowns to earn the victory but Rigters definitely had his moments, which included a spinning back fist that nearly ended the fight.
But if Verhoeven keeps winning with an undefeated run that dates back nearly a decade, he feels like a boxing match against Ngannou would make a lot of sense. So much sense that he’s already heard there’s interest from a promoter with the money to make that fight actually happen.
“The talks have been there,” Verhoeven confirmed. “We’ve been talking to [Saudi Arabia] for different fights. It was fun that Francis came out of the hat but we were already in talks before that. So I’m excited for whatever the future holds. I’m open to all kinds of fun.”
As far as making the move from kickboxing to boxing, Verhoeven has no hesitation when it comes to switching sports because he knows it’s an easier move for him than Ngannou had coming from MMA.
In fact, Verhoeven routinely trains with Tyson Fury’s uncle, who was once his primary coach when he first rose to fame as one of the best heavyweights in boxing.
“For me, the transition is not even a transition,” Verhoeven said. “I’ve been boxing for so many years already. Training with Peter Fury for years and years. He’s been my boxing coach for years and years. It’s second nature. I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever.
“First of course, we’ve got the 7th of December on the menu and then let’s see where we go. Whatever comes our way after that.”
Making a big bag of money in boxing is definitely enticing and the chance to face a former UFC champion adds a few extra sprinkles on top of the sundae but Verhoeven admits the fight would also serve another purpose for him personally.
Despite being recognized as one of the greatest kickboxers of all time, Verhoeven rarely gets mentioned alongside many of his contemporaries from the sport of boxing or MMA when it comes to the best heavyweights in the world.
Ngannou can certainly make a strong claim after he left the UFC as heavyweight champion with many believing he’s still the best in the sport regardless of promotion. In boxing, Oleksandr Usyk stands atop the mountain after he beat Fury with a rematch between them scheduled in December.
Verhoeven believes he should absolutely be mentioned alongside those fighters and taking out somebody like Ngannou might help him get the recognition he deserves.
“Francis is a big name but I’m a big name, too. I’ve been dominating the sport for over a decade that nobody has done,” Verhoeven said.
“Why is my name not there? Because the sport of kickboxing is not as big as a platform as boxing and MMA. So I think that’s the only difference. But quality wise, fighting wise, I’m on the same level or better. If you’re open to test it, let’s test it. I’m here. Show me what you got.”
