‘Not going to be an easy fight for none of them’: Peter Fury expects Rico Verhoeven to challenge Oleksandr Usyk

BOLTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Trainer Peter Fury talks to the media during a press conference ahead of the fight between Hughie Fury and Sam Sexton at Macron Stadium on April 23, 2018 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) | Getty Images Trainer Peter Fury spends some time talking about this weekend’s heavyweight fight between champion Oleksandr Usyk , who will be taking on kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven . Obviously, very few give Rico any real shot at beating Usyk, who is regarded as a generational talent within the sport of boxing, but Fury says he thinks Rico will surprise a lot of spectators with his prowess.

So when asked about Rico getting this chance at the very pinnacle in what will only be his second professional boxing match, Fury had this to say. “We’ve got somebody in Rico that wholly believes he can win,” said Fury. “He’s trained like a Trojan, actually.

He’s in phenomenal shape — he’s always in good shape, but for this he’s in phenomenal shape. He highly respects Usyk because who wouldn’t? So, yeah, he believes he can win, we’ve trained him so he can win, but obviously he’s up against the best there is in this division.

So he’s going to get out there and he’s going to do his very best, and that’s all that you can do. “Forget having one pro [boxing] fight. That’s rubbish.