How Jason Statham assisted Rico Verhoeven in securing a match against Oleksandr Usyk
Unbeknownst to him at the time, a serendipitous encounter with Jason Statham a few years back in London would eventually lead Rico Verhoeven to compete against Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight championship.
Verhoeven, a legendary figure in kickboxing who maintained the GLORY heavyweight title for more than ten years and has remained undefeated since 2015, is set to face Usyk on May 23 in Egypt, near the Pyramids of Giza.
“Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons,” organized by Ring Magazine, represents the latest significant crossover bout that the boxing community has come to expect.
The event itself promises to be remarkable, and the involvement of a high-profile celebrity adds an extra layer of intrigue. In a reflection of Verhoeven’s prominence in the martial arts arena and Statham’s enthusiasm for combat sports, it was the Hollywood actor who reached out to Verhoeven, inviting him to meet while they were both in London.
Verhoeven, a formidable 6ft 5in, 270-pound athlete who has excelled in his field for years, has also ventured into the film industry, appearing in various action movies and most recently working on Roadhouse II.
Through mutual acquaintances, they were connected, and Verhoeven traveled over an hour to meet Statham.
“It was so cool, we just clicked,” Verhoeven tells ESPN. “You know how sometimes you just have a certain energy that aligns with people, and that’s what we experienced. Since then, we have kept in touch.”
They met again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Usyk’s fight against Tyson Fury.
“He was like bro; you need to be here! It needs to happen,” the Dutch fighter recalls. “He began discussing me with His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority], planting the idea.”
Fast forward to September of last year in Las Vegas, where Statham, who has become a regular presence at major fights alongside Alalshikh, was present for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford match. Again, according to Verhoeven, he advocated for the kickboxing champion to be included in a significant fight of his own.
“Sunday morning, Amsterdam time, I’m on the treadmill running, and Jason is calling,” Verhoeven explains. “I said: ‘Bro, I’m on the treadmill, let me call you [back].’ He responded, ‘Listen up, slow down. I spoke to [Alalshikh], and he’s on board; he loves it. He’s been following all your fights and wants to do something. I gave him your contact, and his team will reach out to you.’
“So yeah, he [Statham] was the glue.”
A bout against Anthony Joshua was in the works, nearly confirmed and scheduled for March, with Verhoeven’s name mentioned at the post-fight press conference following Joshua’s victory over Jake Paul in November.
However, Joshua’s involvement in a car accident on December 31 that resulted in the deaths of two of his friends left both Verhoeven and the British heavyweight’s career in uncertainty. Verhoeven was back to square one, still eager for a significant fight.
He received offers from the UFC but remained focused on boxing, which aligns more closely with his abilities. His team decided to propose the idea of a fight with Usyk to Alalshikh.
Why not?
“He’s the champ, I’m the champ in my discipline, let’s discuss it,” Verhoeven states. “I contacted them and said: ‘I have an idea, I just want to pitch it … Just let me know your thoughts.’
“I heard: ‘I love it.’
“The rest is history. They talked it over with [Usyk], and he was enthusiastic about it, saying: ‘I love it too, let’s make it happen.’
Not only will Verhoeven, a kickboxing legend who will be remembered as one of the sport’s finest, face the top heavyweight boxer in the world, but it will also be for an actual title, with the WBC confirming that their belt will be contested.
The fight has sparked debate within the boxing community, but it represents another event that will attract attention to the sport.
And, set against the backdrop of the ancient pyramids, it is sure to resemble something out of a film.
