HAND-PICKED MENTOR: WHY RICO VERHOEVEN TRUSTED PETER FURY FOR HIS BOXING DEBUT
Peter Fury, the man who guided Tyson to victory over Klitschko, is now training Rico Verhoeven to face Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt.
Tyson Fury’s shock win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 didn’t just end a decade of heavyweight rule; it flipped the whole division on its head and kicked off a new era. Behind that night’s master plan was his uncle, Peter Fury, the sharp-minded trainer who now finds himself on the verge of pulling off something even bigger.
This time, Dutch kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven, who’s only had one professional boxing fight, has picked Peter Fury to guide him as he gets ready to face unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk. The fight’s set for May 23, right by the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, with the Ring Magazine sponsoring the event.
Usyk’s WBA, IBF, and Ring belts aren’t on the line, but on Sunday, the WBC announced its title is up for grabs, even though Verhoeven’s pro boxing résumé is just a single bout.
DAZN will stream the fight exclusively.
Peter Fury jumped on social media to announce he’s heading to Holland for a full three-month camp. He sounded fired up: “It's going to be a great night. A lot of hard work to be done, but two great people and two great champions in their own right. What a privilege. Looking forward to this camp, and God will decide whatever happens.”
Verhoeven’s probably the most decorated heavyweight kickboxer out there, but he knows what he’s up against. Usyk hasn’t fought since knocking out Daniel Dubois last September to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champ. That’s not exactly an easy mountain to climb.
Verhoeven’s only pro boxing fight was back in 2014, when he stopped Janos Finfera in two rounds. Still, he’s kept his boxing sharp. Over the years, he’s built a solid relationship with Peter Fury and has made regular stops at Fury training camps. He’s even sparred with both Tyson and Peter’s son, Hughie Fury, who once held the British heavyweight title and challenged for a world title.
Now, with the biggest test of his career ahead, Verhoeven’s putting his faith in a trainer he knows and trusts, someone who knows how to handle heavyweight business.
LAWRENCE OKOLIE FACES CAREER-ENDING FOUR-YEAR BAN AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR GHRP-2
Lawrence Okolie’s heavyweight debut is in ruins after a positive test for GHRP-2. Discover the potential ban and fight fallout.
Lawrence Okolie’s career hangs in the balance after he failed a drug test.
Days before he was set to fight Tony Yoka in Paris, the former cruiserweight world champ tested positive for GHRP-2, a banned substance that triggers the release of human growth hormone (HGH). That test result got him pulled from Saturday’s bout right away. HGH can give boxers a bigger edge by boosting muscle and trimming fat, and it’s notoriously tough to spot in tests.
Okolie, who’s also held a bridgerweight world title, is now looking at a possible four-year ban if the evidence shows he cheated. Even if he can prove he didn’t take it on purpose, he’s still facing up to two years out of the ring. After news broke, the 33-year-old Olympian pointed the finger at injury treatment.
“Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I want to explain that after my bicep injury last year, I picked up an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp,” he said. “I got treatment for that, and now here we are. I really hope people see sense. I’ll work with all the right authorities, and I’m sure the investigation will clear me. No more comments for now. Thanks for all the support. See you soon.”
Okolie’s story is a familiar one for boxing. He was working at McDonald’s in 2012, watching Anthony Joshua grab Olympic gold, and four years later, Okolie himself was at the Rio Games, making it to the last 16. After that, he turned pro and quickly picked up the British, Commonwealth, and European cruiserweight belts.
His big moment came in 2021, when he stopped Krzysztof Glowacki for his first world title, defending it three times. But his cruiserweight reign ended in 2023, outpointed by Chris Billam-Smith in Bournemouth. He bounced back, taking the bridgerweight crown, then jumped up to heavyweight, eyeing a shot at another world title after three straight wins.
That plan is up in smoke for now. Promoter Frank Warren found out about the positive test on Monday and tried to salvage the show, but with Okolie out, he just couldn’t do it. The whole event, including a fight for rising Irish heavyweight Adam Olaniyan, got the chop.
“He’ll have to go through a hearing once they set it up. The whole thing’s a mess, but that’s how it is,” Warren said. As a side note, Tony Yoka, who beat Joe Joyce for Olympic gold in Rio, isn’t new to controversy himself; he served a year-long ban back in 2018 after missing three drug tests.
WHY LAWRENCE OKOLIE’S HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH WITH TONY YOKA FACES SUDDEN CANCELLATION
Lawrence Okolie returns an adverse finding on a VADA test. We break down the fight cancellation, injury explanation, and the fallout.
Lawrence Okolie, the former cruiserweight world champion, was set to face Tony Yoka in Paris this past Saturday as part of his ongoing move into the heavyweight division. However, things took a turn when the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) notified his promoter, Queensberry, about an adverse finding from a recent drug test conducted ahead of the event. Queensberry stated that further details about the situation and the fight would be released in due time.
In response, Okolie took to social media to explain the circumstances surrounding the test. He mentioned that after dealing with a bicep injury last year, he sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this training camp. He had undergone treatment for it, which he suggests might be related to the test results. Okolie expressed hope that reason would prevail and assured that he would fully cooperate with any investigations, confident they would eventually clear his name. At this moment, he chose not to comment further but thanked his supporters and promised to return soon.
Looking back, Okolie and Yoka both competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, though in different weight categories. While Okolie didn’t secure a medal, Yoka won gold in the super-heavyweight division, beating Joe Joyce in a final that sparked some controversy. Okolie went on to claim the world cruiserweight title before losing to Chris Billam-Smith three years ago. Afterwards, he captured the WBC bantamweight title with a knockout against Lukasz Rozanski, a belt that doesn't carry much prestige, before moving up to heavyweight. Before the planned bout with Yoka, Okolie had stopped his previous three opponents.
When the fight was first announced, Okolie reflected on his progression through the weight classes. He found it tough to make weight at cruiserweight and bridgerweight, but at heavyweight, he feels stronger, more explosive, and comfortable. With the fight about eight or nine weeks away, he was confident he could get into great shape. Candidly, he called this opportunity his Olympic gold medal fight, since he never had the chance to win one at the actual Games. He acknowledged Yoka’s experience and skill but believed the momentum was shifting in his favour, implying he’s ready to take things to the next level in his heavyweight journey.
