The UFC star has called for boxing fans to be more open to MMA fighters who crossover.
Rico Verhoeven is set to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC heavyweight title on May 23 in Cairo, Egypt.
Heading into the bout, Verhoeven is widely regarded as the underdog against the reigning king of boxing’s glamour division.
However, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has urged fans to take Verhoeven more seriously as a contender.
During an interview with Ring Magazine, Aspinall explained: “I’m surprised how close-minded the boxing community is when it comes to other combat athletes coming in, in the way that they don’t give him a chance.
“Rico is a big dude who can punch really hard. So, to me, that gives him a chance of winning.
“Am I saying that he’s a better boxer than Usyk? No.
“There’s no one on the planet who’s a better boxer than Usyk.
“Do I think he’s going to win?
“It’s tough for me to sit here and be honest and be like, ‘Rico is going to win the fight easily.’
“But, do I think he’s got a chance? Absolutely.
“The guy’s so mentally strong, so confident, and he’s done so much in his career in kickboxing that he absolutely has a chance of winning.”
While Aspinall admits he may be slightly biased due to their friendship, Rico Verhoeven’s kickboxing career undeniably proves that he is a formidable opponent.
Verhoeven has remained undefeated in his bouts since January 2015 and has enjoyed an impressive reign of over a decade as the Glory heavyweight champion.
Granted, this will only be his second venture in the squared circle, but the Dutchman is working with Peter Fury to prepare for the huge task ahead of him.
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