Despite limited experience, Verhoeven is no stranger to the sweet science.
For more than 15 years he has trained under Peter Fury and sparred Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte and UFC champion Tom Aspinall.
“Rico has been boxing with us a long time and he punches like a boxer,” Peter Fury says.
“It’s always been about boxing to help with his kickboxing, but now it’s all about boxing.
“It’s great because it’s intriguing for me to see how he can adapt with such a great champion.”
There have been plenty of stars to cross the divide between combat sports, only to find boxing is a specialist’s game.
MMA fighters Francis Ngannou and Conor McGregor are notable examples, though neither enjoyed the sustained dominance Verhoeven achieved in kickboxing.
Verhoeven says the hardest transition has been adjusting to the tempo.
“Kickboxing is so short and the fight is over.
“Now I understand that boxing is more of an art. You have 12 rounds to paint your masterpiece. I love that mindset.”
And if that painting is completed in the shadow of the pyramids, he knows exactly who to thank.
“The way I’m going to repay Jason is by doing what I told him I’m going to do,” Verhoeven says. “And that’s to make history.”
