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.
INJURY UPDATE: RYAN GARCIA DODGES SURGERY; CLEARED FOR MASSIVE JULY RING RETURN
After clinching the WBC title, Ryan Garcia's hand is confirmed as "not broken," clearing the path for a 144lb catchweight mega-fight.
Ryan Garcia dodged a broken hand after his world title win over Mario Barrios, even though his hand looked pretty rough right after the fight.
That night in February was huge for Garcia. He dropped Barrios, dominated the fight, and finally got his hands on a world championship belt.
But right after the final bell, Garcia couldn’t hide the pain. His hand was swollen, and a lot of people figured it was broken. When he pulled off his glove, it looked even worse – bad enough that you’d expect the worst.
Turns out, he got lucky. Boxing reporter Mike Coppinger says Garcia’s hand isn’t broken after all. His advisor, Guadalupe Valencia, told Ring Magazine it’s just a light sprain. That’s a relief, and it means Garcia can look at a July return to the ring.
So, no rematch with Barrios. Garcia is free to chase some of the bigger names in the division, and honestly, that’s what fans want to see.
First up, there’s Conor Benn, who’s the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC belt. But Benn is already booked for an April fight against Regis Prograis at 150 pounds. Since Benn only has a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, his next move isn’t clear, so a summer fight with Garcia is up in the air.
But Garcia seems to have someone else in mind anyway. After his win, he immediately called out Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson just picked up the WBO title at 140 pounds after a big win over Teofimo Lopez. Now, a fight between these two is actually on the table.
Stevenson isn’t shy about what he wants, though. He’s made it clear he wants VADA drug testing and a catchweight of 144 pounds for the fight. Here’s what he said: “Was VADA involved in this fight? I saw him with Rolly; he didn’t look like that. If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge, but VADA will be involved.
“We’ll meet in the middle at 144 pounds. Two big stars – we don’t need a belt for the fight.
“I think it’s a great fight to make. I’m in this for big fights. Ryan and I would have an even bigger fight, and it would be a tremendous fight.
"I want to fight him, and he wants to fight me, so it should be easy to get it done. We’ve just got to make sure he’s on VADA, and there’s no cheating involved.”
NO MORE EXCUSES: WHY DANIEL DUBOIS MUST PROVE HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS AGAINST WARDLEY
Is Dubois ready for Wardley? Discover why Frank Warren is demanding control and the latest on Don Charles' return to the corner.
Daniel Dubois’ main problem against Oleksandr Usyk was control. That’s what he needs to fix if he wants any chance of beating Fabio Wardley.
Back in August 2024, Dubois faced Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley. He showed up just 90 minutes before his ringwalk, way after Usyk had already settled in. Sure, the fifth-round knockout stung, but honestly, the chaos before the fight said just as much. When a fighter’s environment falls apart, so does the fight. That night, Dubois’ camp looked anything but organised.
Frank Warren put it simply: “That can’t happen again.” He told Sky Sports he was “tearing my hair out” over the late arrival – pretty blunt for a promoter right before a big fight. When the people running the show admit something went wrong, you know it did. They needed to make changes.
This time, Dubois and his team are keeping things tight. Warren confirmed they’ll stay in a Manchester hotel for the Wardley fight, cutting down on distractions and locking in the logistics. Dubois has also gone back to Don Charles after a short stint with Tony Sims, choosing stability and someone he trusts over more guesswork. Right now, he needs things simple and solid.
Now he’s facing Wardley, who doesn’t waste time. Wardley’s undefeated, throws a ton of punches, and turns up the heat early. If Dubois hesitates, Wardley will catch it and punish it. There’s no hiding from uncertainty in this matchup. Dubois will have to show, right away, that he’s ready.
The fight’s set for May 9 in Manchester, with the WBO heavyweight title on the line. After Wembley, Dubois gets another shot at the top. He’s called the Usyk loss a lesson and promised not to repeat the same mistakes. But talk is cheap. We’ll see if he’s really changed if his team’s prepared, if he shows up ready, and if everything around him is locked down when the pressure hits.
Manchester will tell the story. If Dubois comes in calm and focused, people will notice. If the same old mess shows up, the problem won’t be with his boxing; it’ll be about control. And in heavyweight title fights, that’s usually what decides who walks away with the belt and who goes back to chasing.
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