Eddie Hearn: On Paper, It's Impossible for Rico Verhoeven to Beat Oleksandr Usyk

Rico Verhoeven is not favored in the fight against Oleksandr Usyk (Instagram/@ricoverhoeven).

JAKARTA - Promoter Eddie Hearn says Rico Verhoeven is almost impossible to beat Oleksandr Usyk, but does not rule out one of the biggest surprises in boxing history.

Verhoeven, a kickboxing great from the Netherlands who has had one professional boxing match, will face Usyk, the undisputed and unified heavyweight champion in two classes, at the Giza Pyramids, Egypt, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, local time or Sunday, May 24, 2026, dawn WIB.

Although Hearn admitted that the Dutch boxer faces very little chance, he admitted that surprises are not impossible.

"This fight on paper is a mountain that Rico Verhoeven can't climb. No, I'll repeat it, for an ordinary person. However, the reason he did what he did is because he is not an ordinary person."

"Oleksandr Usyk is one of the greatest boxers not only in this generation, but also the best example for every young boxer, athlete, in terms of work ethic and mindset."

"I thank (Usyk) and his team for allowing (Anthony Joshua) to enter his training camp. What I have seen up close is the reason why he is undefeated, at the peak of his career."

"Tomorrow, this guy (Verhoeven), whose arms are like a normal man's thighs, has the opportunity to, quite frankly, create one of the biggest surprises in boxing history."

"Maybe not for him, but it will be recorded on paper if he manages to do it. I'll tell you something."

"If there was ever anything dramatic, anything strange to happen, it would happen at the foot of the Pyramids in Egypt," Hearn said.

The two boxers met at the final press conference in Cairo on Thursday, May 21, 2026, local time, and Verhoeven confirmed that he would give Usyk a unique challenge.

"I'm bringing something he's never seen before because he's only faced boxers. They've been boxing all their lives. I haven't."

"So, this is a completely different approach. This is God's will. We'll see. May the best win. The first goal is to win. How will we win? We'll see."

"If KO, yes, KO. If the jury's decision, yes, the jury's decision. If it comes to the jury's decision and I win? Wow," said Verhoeven.