Rico Verhoeven has enlisted the services of Peter Fury, the uncle and former trainer of Tyson Fury, as he prepares for his WBC heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza.
According to numerous reports, the 36-year-old kickboxing champion will train under Peter Fury for what will be his second professional boxing bout. The contest marks Verhoeven’s first attempt at a world title in boxing after a decorated career in kickboxing.
Peter Fury previously served as head trainer to Tyson Fury when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to claim the WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles. Tyson Fury later parted ways with his uncle, moving on to work with his father John Fury and SugarHill Steward. Peter Fury currently trains his son Hughie Fury and former undisputed women’s super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall.
Although Verhoeven has not formally worked with Peter Fury in the past, the two have longstanding ties. Verhoeven has attended multiple Fury training camps and has sparred with both Tyson and Hughie Fury, according to ESPN. Tyson Fury, who is preparing for a return bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, is not expected to play a major role in Verhoeven’s preparations.
Verhoeven enters the bout with limited professional boxing experience but carries significant credentials from kickboxing. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s leading heavyweights, he was the longest-reigning champion in GLORY Kickboxing history, recording 13 title defences across an 11-year reign. Following the expiration of his GLORY contract in late 2025, Verhoeven reportedly turned down an offer from the UFC as he pursued opportunities in boxing.
Usyk will be making the latest defence of his heavyweight crown during a title reign that has included victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Verhoeven is set to become the third different opponent of Usyk’s championship run and the sixth challenger overall, with the bout adding further intrigue to a heavyweight landscape that continues to evolve.
