Eddie Hearn thinks Rico Verhoeven needs to be “deluded” to believe he can beat Oleksandr Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, but he’s not ruling it out entirely. Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing at the Glory in Giza press event in Egypt, the Matchroom promoter gave a blunt but respectful assessment of Rico’s chances.
“He’s a big character, he’s a big lump, and he can really punch,” Hearn said. “He’s got hands like shovels. But it’s like you’ve got to be deluded to think you can pull this off.”
Tom Aspinall Vouches for Rico’s Power
Hearn revealed that UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who trains regularly with Verhoeven, gave him a private assessment of the kickboxing star’s abilities.
“When I spoke to Tom Aspinall, he trains with Rico a lot and he’s like, ‘Mate, let me tell you something. I’m not saying he has the skills to compete with Usyk, but my god, can he punch, and he’s strong as an ox,'” Hearn said. “He’s got Peter Fury in the corner, he’s got a lot of good brains around him.”
Aspinall’s endorsement carries weight given that he operates across both combat sports worlds. The UFC champion’s testimony focused on raw physical attributes rather than technical boxing ability, which aligns with the general view that Rico’s path to victory runs through his size and power advantage rather than skill.
The Ngannou Precedent
Hearn acknowledged his own track record of underestimating crossover fighters. He pointed to the Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury fight as a cautionary example.
“I didn’t think Francis Ngannou had a chance against Tyson Fury, and I thought he beat him in that fight,” Hearn said. “It’s an unconventional style that could cause some problems to the guy that’s mastered all styles in Alexander Usyk.”
That comparison matters. Ngannou, with no professional boxing background, dropped Fury and pushed him to a contested split decision. Rico brings significantly more striking experience than Ngannou did, plus the advantage of training under Peter Fury, who has worked with heavyweight champions.
A Pyramid to Climb
Despite leaving the door open, Hearn’s overall verdict was clear.
“He’s got a pyramid to climb on May the 23rd and I’m not sure he can do it,” Hearn said. “But in this division, it’s probably the only division where something crazy could happen, because these are big guys that can really punch.”
Hearn also praised the scale of the event itself, calling it “vision on another level as a spectacle” after seeing the production specifications for the Pyramids venue. The card also features Hamzah Sheeraz in a world title fight and Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov.
Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven: Glory in Giza takes place on May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza. The event streams on DAZN.
