Jarrell Miller is siding with Rico Verhoeven ahead of the Dutch kickboxing champion’s upcoming showdown with unified heavyweight boxing titleholder Oleksandr Usyk.
Ahead of Oleksandr Usyk’s May 23 clash with Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt, Jarrell Miller has made it clear he is riding with the kickboxing legend over the unified heavyweight champion. The bout will take place against the backdrop of the pyramids, giving an already unusual crossover matchup an even bigger spectacle feel.
That setting is part of why this fight is getting so much attention in the United States. American combat sports fans have seen boxing lean harder into destination events in recent years, but a high-profile heavyweight matchup in front of one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks pushes that trend even further. It also puts a fresh spotlight on Verhoeven, whose name is massive in kickboxing circles but still not fully mainstream with U.S. boxing audiences.
Miller, never shy about going against the grain, said he is not following the popular pick and is backing the Dutchman. He praised Verhoeven as an elite talent rather than a novelty opponent, saying he began paying serious attention to kickboxing because of him through promotions like Glory and K-1, and added that he is still putting his money on his friend Rico.
The stakes go beyond spectacle. If Usyk handles Verhoeven cleanly, it only strengthens the argument that he remains one of the most adaptable heavyweight champions of his era, capable of controlling elite fighters from different disciplines. If Verhoeven makes this competitive—or somehow wins—it would be one of the loudest statements a kickboxer has made on a global combat sports stage in years.
There is also a narrative test for both men. Usyk has to show that his ring IQ and timing can neutralize a larger, dangerous striker from outside boxing’s usual lane. Verhoeven, meanwhile, has to prove that his success in kickboxing can translate under boxing rules against a master technician rather than just generate curiosity.
With Miller planting his flag early, the conversation around Usyk vs. Verhoeven now shifts to whether this is just a spectacle in the desert or a genuine stylistic threat once the first bell rings.
