Rico Verhoeven: My best shot 'of course' KOs Oleksandr Usyk

Rico Verhoeven believes he's got what it takes to do what no fighter has been able to do before – knockout all-time great Oleksandr Usyk.

The two heavyweights clash in a crossover superfight, as this boxing championship bout pits Verhoeven, a former GLORY kickboxing champion, against Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion. Despite Verhoeven (1-0) not having much experience in boxing, all while going up against a generational talent, the Dutch fighter is confident he's got what it takes to put the lights out on Usyk (24-0).

“When I land my best punch on him, of course, he will go down," Verhoeven said at Tuesday's press conference promoting the event. "It’s, like, a 20 kilo weight difference,” Verhoeven says. “He’s like a built-up cruiserweight, and I’m like a naturally-born heavyweight. That’s a big difference. That's what's going to happen if I land my best shot clean.”

Verhoeven, who stands at 6'5 and weighs around 270 pounds, expects his size to be a big advantage. Usyk is one of today's smaller heavyweights. His natural weight class is cruiserweight, but he moved up to heavyweight in 2019 in pursuit of big fights with the major top heavyweight boxers.

The Usyk-Verhoeven championship bout, where Usyk's WBC heavyweight title will be on the line, is set to go down on May 23 in front of the ancient Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Verhoeven is excited at the opportunity and has every intention of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history.

"All smiles because what an opportunity we have to upset the world and write history," Verhoeven said. "Exactly what Eddie said, 'Are you crazy?' I think to be the very best at what you're going, you have to be a little bit crazy and I think that's just not me, but every vertical and every discipline, you have to be a little bit crazy and obsessed with what you're doing, and that's what I am. What I do, I do to the point perfect. I do to perfection. In my vision, I love it, I enjoy it, and I do it with so much passion. I'm crazy excited to be here and super thankful for the opportunity that Alexander Usyk has given me."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Rico Verhoeven confident in ability to finish Oleksandr Usyk