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Oleksandr Usyk on fighting Rico Verhoeven
A kickboxing world champion attempts to dethrone boxing's unified heavyweight king at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza - it sounds like the plot of Hollywood's latest blockbuster movie.
But there is nothing scripted about Oleksandr Usyk'sWBC title defence against boxing novice Rico Verhoevenin Egypt on Saturday.
This is boxing's new normal, where the lines between fantasy and reality have shifted.
The storyline offers intrigue: two dominant figures from different combat sports disciplines -. the outcome should be a routine win for heavyweight boxing's generational great Usyk.
From inside his training camp in Spain, Usyk told BBC Sport a career in acting could be on the cards when he finally hangs up his gloves,. he feels he still has unfinished business in the ring.
"I will not stop my career after I fight Rico - I have two, maybe three, fights more," Usyk said.
"I build a plan in future for this fight - I have a secret plan. I want to build a business - this is one of my last fights, but I build [a] big show."
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Dutchman Verhoeven, 37, boasts an impressive kickboxing resume, reigning as Glory's heavyweight champion for 11 years. making 13 successful defences, but has boxed just once professionally - in 2014.
But Usyk's CV in boxing is just as eye-catching - if not more so.
After winning gold at the 2012 Olympics. the Ukrainian has established himself as one of the pound-for-pound greats by achieving undisputed status at cruiserweight and, twice, at heavyweight.
Usyk, 39, has brushed aside Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury. Daniel Dubois - beating each of the Britons on two occasions - and, despite Verhoeven's lack of boxing experience, is approaching this bout with the same mentality.
"The opponent might be different but my preparations are not different," Usyk said.
"I work hard, I do a lot of work in sparring, conditioning and cardio.
"I train like I'm fighting Tyson Fury or Daniel Dubois, because for me it's a serious fight. It's not fake. For me it's not a show, it's a fight."
Oleksandr Usyk last fought in July 2025 when he beat Daniel Dubois
Usyk, who holds the WBA (Super), WBO. WBC belts, is yet to taste defeat in 24 fights as a professional - winning 15 inside the distance.
The last time he left the ring without having his arm raised was as an amateur in 2009 at the AIBA World Championships.
That loss to Russia's Egor Mekhontsev 16 years. eight months ago, before Usyk married his wife Yekatarina and started a family, was pivotal on his path to greatness.
"After the fight I went back to my room. prayed, I said 'listen, Olek, you lost but maybe you couldn't do more to win. You must do work, homework and get out the mistakes'," Usyk said.
"Making mistakes is not bad but if you don't change then the mistake is bad.
"I changed my training camp, I changed my discipline, I changed my life. I married Yekatarina and then after nine months my first daughter arrived.
"Then I looked at this mini person. thought 'OK, I need to change my life, because I'm now not just an athlete and boxer, now I'm husband and father' - Liza, my daughter, really changed my life."
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