Ricco Verhoeven Deserved a Twelfth Round against Usyk. Here is why: First of all, congratulations to Team Ricco Verhoeven on an outstanding performance against Oleksandr Usyk. Karim Erja deserves credit, the entire management team deserves credit, but especially Dennis Krauweel deserves enormous respect after this fight. Dennis stood beside Ricco Verhoeven for years, just like he had already done during the Golden Glory days. Loyalty still exists in combat sports, although modern boxing often looks more fake than a politician visiting an orphanage during election season.
As a former manager of world champions and one of Europe’s earliest kickboxing and MMA promoters, I immediately recognized the quality of preparation from Team Ricco. You cannot fake chemistry between trainer and fighter. Dennis Krauweel and Ricco Verhoeven trusted each other completely, and that confidence became visible from the opening seconds of the fight.
The World and Ricco Verhoeven Deserved a Twelfth Round Because His Strategy Worked Perfectly Against Usyk
Ricco Verhoeven fought intelligently (perfect execution of Dennis Krauweel’s Game plan), aggressively, and professionally against one of boxing’s greatest technicians. Despite his height advantage, he pushed forward constantly with his chin tucked down and pressure applied every second. His conditioning looked incredible. Ricco’s work rate looked relentless. His preparation looked world-class. Moses Itauma previously claimed Ricco Verhoeven should never jump directly into a WBC world title fight. After this performance, those comments suddenly aged like sushi left inside a Bangkok taxi during the April heat. Matty Harris already warned people before the fight. Ricco Verhoeven has been the Glory Kickboxing world champion for over a decade because he naturally belongs among heavyweight fighters. He punches hard, absorbs pressure, and keeps moving forward like a Dutch freight train carrying unpaid bills and bad intentions.
Social media experts still underestimate him because modern combat sports fans often confuse YouTube subscriptions with actual knowledge. Some overweight genius with blue hair and finger tattoos suddenly becomes a boxing analyst after watching Rocky IV twice and shadowboxing near a mirror.
Fantastic generation.
Usyk Faced a Real Fight, and Ricco Verhoeven Deserved the Final Round
I genuinely loved watching this event. Riyadh Season transformed Egypt into something spectacular with the pyramids shining behind the ring. Turki Alalshikh clearly understands entertainment and atmosphere better than many traditional promoters who are still operating in the fax-machine era. Ricco Verhoeven’s entrance looked epic. Everything matched perfectly. The tension felt enormous from the opening bell because everybody secretly sensed the possibility of history.
And honestly, the upset started hanging in the air after several rounds. I personally had Ricco Verhoeven ahead after eight rounds. Not by fantasy fan scoring either. I genuinely believed his pressure, pace, and aggression controlled major parts of the fight.
Usyk still looked dangerous because elite fighters always remain dangerous, but Ricco forced him into uncomfortable exchanges throughout the fight. That surprised many boxing fans who expected Ricco to collapse immediately.
Apparently, kickboxing champions can actually fight. Incredible discovery for some people online.
Ricco Verhoeven Deserved a Twelfth Round After the Referee’s Horrible Decision
The uppercut-hook combination from Usyk landed beautifully and knocked Ricco’s mouthpiece out cleanly. Nobody denies that. Both fighters looked exhausted because this was an actual heavyweight fight, not one of those influencer boxing events where two millionaires hug each other for twelve rounds while commentators scream like somebody discovered fire. The mouthpiece replacement took about 11 or 12 seconds. Fine. That belongs to combat sports. Corners always try to buy time to recover during dangerous moments. Usyk also benefited from those extra seconds because he looked tired himself. Then the referee completely lost his mind. Ricco Verhoeven defended himself properly. Head movement remained sharp, the hands stayed active, and intelligent bobbing and weaving under pressure showed exactly how experienced fighters survive dangerous moments.
Last time I checked, referees stop fights when boxers can no longer defend themselves. That rule changed somewhere between TikTok and emotional panic attacks. This referee stopped the fight while Ricco still defended himself. If you listen carefully, the stoppage practically arrives after the bell already sounds for the end of round eleven. That decision robbed the audience of seeing the final round of one of boxing’s biggest potential upsets.
Even Jake Paul called it robbery. When Jake Paul suddenly becomes the voice of reason, humanity should probably start preparing emergency shelters.
Why Ricco Verhoeven Deserved a Twelfth Round Against Usyk and Still Had a Chance
Many people immediately claimed Usyk would automatically finish Ricco in round twelve anyway. Maybe he would have. Maybe he would not have. That uncertainty is exactly why championship fights continue until the final bell rather than ending when referees suddenly feel nervous. Ricco Verhoeven stood only three minutes away from potentially creating the greatest upset in modern boxing history. Dennis Krauweel remained in his corner. Adrenaline remained alive. Momentum still mattered. At the eleventh hour of round eleven, a referee’s decision robbed Team Ricco and the entire boxing world of witnessing what could have become the most historic twelfth round in modern boxing history. Nobody witnessed a twelfth round.
Anything still could happen. We already watched Ricco survive adversity throughout his kickboxing career. We saw him recover from knockdowns and continue fighting. Everybody remembers Glory Collision 2, where Badr Hari knocked down Ricco Verhoeven, and despite impossible odds, Rico Verhoeven came back and won the fight. We saw him win brutal fights while Ricco’s face resembled Rocky Balboa after surviving a motorcycle accident inside a butcher shop when he fought Ben Saddik. Still, he kept going forward and still found ways to win. That mentality cannot be taught through social media motivation videos narrated by fake entrepreneurs standing beside rented Lamborghinis.
Real fighters suffer first.
Ricco Verhoeven Built His Career Correctly and Deserved Respect Against Usyk
Ricco Verhoeven made intelligent career decisions for years. Loyalty toward his trainer remained constant throughout his career. Smart management choices and experienced people around him helped shape his path toward success. Those decisions matter enormously in combat sports because many talented fighters destroy their careers faster than Hollywood destroys classic movies. I understand this personally because I managed fighters myself during the Golden Glory years. Dennis Krauweel and I go back many years. I even brought Dennis to Japan once for a fight against Fred Floyd, so there has always been mutual respect between us. Dennis always listened carefully when discussing career direction. Years ago, he visited my home in Pattaya together with his wife and asked intelligent questions about management and long-term planning. I explained something very simple to him. Choose the right management. Surround yourself with intelligent people. Everything changes afterward.
Ricco already possessed the looks, discipline, and mentality required for worldwide success. The crossover into boxing or MMA always remained possible with the correct timing and strategy. Unlike modern influencers who train twice, buy expensive sunglasses, tattoo lions across their chest, and suddenly start calling themselves warriors on Instagram.
The internet became exhausting.
Ricco Verhoeven’s Incredible Comeback against Ben Saddik
I introduced and Made It Possible That Semmy Schilt to get a Role with Jason Statham
Jason Statham helped make the Usyk versus Ricco Verhoeven fight possible, which again proves networking beats talent alone. Years ago, I introduced Semmy Schilt for a role in Transporter 3 because fighters must think beyond punches and trophies. Ricco Verhoeven understood that lesson perfectly. During my years in the Fight Game, I managed Semmy Schilt and stood in his corner when he defeated Ricco Verhoeven. Later, while working the corner for Errol Zimmerman, I watched Ricco Verhoeven lose again. After both fights, I walked over to Dennis Krauweel and Ricco himself because something remained obvious despite those defeats.
Talent was there.
Willpower was there.
Youth remained on his side.
Focus and discipline simply needed time to mature correctly, and eventually everything would come together for Ricco Verhoeven if he stayed patient and loyal to the process.
That prediction became reality.
Semmy Schilt only cared about fighting. Cameras annoyed him more than low kicks. Before fights, he locked himself away in Zuidlaren like a giant Dutch samurai preparing for war. Promoters wanted interviews while Semmy preferred silence, discipline, and preparation. Funny enough, Semmy now creates comedy content online. Japanese fans would have loved that personality during his K-1 reign. Back then, he behaved like a monk carrying heavyweight destruction inside a six-foot-eleven body.
Ricco Verhoeven chose another path. Attending events, building connections, and surrounding himself with successful people became part of his journey. Financial struggles, divorce, and difficult moments never distracted him from the goal. It’s this type of mentality that brought Ricco Verhoeven within three minutes of defeating Oleksandr Usyk.
Perfect irony occurred when Sylvester Stallone watched the fight wearing a Usyk shirt, while Ricco Verhoeven practically lived out a real Rocky movie in the ring. Hollywood scriptwriters could never invent something this ridiculous.
Why the Network Is More Important Than Any School or Graduation
Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, David Sacks, Chad Hurley, and the PayPal Mafia became giants because strong networks create opportunities faster than universities selling overpriced motivational fairy tales. Wealth usually grows through powerful circles, smart partnerships, and timing. Combat sports follow exactly the same formula. Conor McGregor earned a massive fortune through Proper No. Twelve whiskey. Floyd Mayweather transformed TMT into a financial empire. George Clooney sold tequila for one billion dollars because celebrities somehow make alcohol sound sophisticated.
Mark Wahlberg promotes Municipal clothing everywhere he goes, like a walking billboard searching for cameras. Jake Paul pushes Celsius energy drinks daily, while MrBeast sells Feastables chocolate bars to children faster than schools sell homework depression.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson earned over one hundred million dollars from G-Unit clothing, while George Foreman made more than two hundred million dollars selling grills. Imagine becoming a heavyweight champion and discovering that toasted sandwiches create more wealth than uppercuts. Modern capitalism often reads like it was written by drunk stand-up comedians.
Ricco Verhoeven entered that elite circle through discipline, loyalty, professionalism, and smart networking. The controversial stoppage of Oleksandr Usyk no longer matters financially because Ricco Verhoeven gained worldwide respect, bigger opportunities, and enormous public sympathy among boxing fans.
Google and YouTube currently keep the Boon Family and Boon Brothers channels trapped inside an algorithm prison while fake reaction channels scream into webcams, collecting millions of views. Apparently, real combat sports stories have become dangerous for Silicon Valley geniuses wearing thousand-dollar sneakers and pretending that censorship does not exist.
Order the Three Books of Bas Boon and Discover the Crazy but True History of Fight Sports, MMA, Kickboxing, and the Wild Fight Game Behind the Scenes
How About the Boon Brothers? Are They Going to Be Champions?
My sons already behave like small caffeinated gladiators, running around Thailand in search of daily conflict. Muay Thai training sometimes creates chaos because little Ken Boon refuses to understand the difference between sparring and fighting children at school. Teachers probably deserve danger money at this stage. Kato Boon trained in Taekwondo and Muay Thai before becoming obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo. Conan Boon prefers Messi, which means football debates at home sound like political warfare during election season. Little Ken behaves differently from both brothers. Fear does not exist inside that child. Punishment changes nothing. Competition fuels him every second. Honestly, genetics probably started drinking vodka before creating that personality.
Ricco Verhoeven remains their favorite fighter, although Ken supports Oleksandr Usyk simply because his brothers support Ricco Verhoeven. Contradiction lives inside his blood naturally. The Boon Brothers and Boon Family channels have already built strong YouTube audiences. Personally, I would rather see my sons become successful creators than absorb punches from angry heavyweights every weekend. Still, children eventually choose their own future, unlike modern governments and social media companies controlling everybody else’s.
Ricco Verhoeven and Dennis Krauweel / team Ricco Congratulations, Well Done, and deserved!!
During my morning walks this week, I bumped into Tyson Fury three different times, which again proves the law of attraction inside boxing and life. Successful people eventually cross paths because winners move through the same circles, while broke dreamers stay online screaming inside comment sections.
As Bas Boon always says: “In the fight game, the right network opens doors, the wrong ego breaks jaws, and bullshit eventually gets knocked out.”
Boon Brother Love in the Ring, nobody gets spared. Notice how 3-year-old Ken wants to bang with his Boon Brothers!
Francis Ngannou and Ricco Verhoeven Changed How Boxing Sees MMA/Kickboxing Fighters
Ricco Verhoeven’s transition to boxing also deserves enormous credit, as Peter Fury helped shape and guide key aspects of his development. People often forget Peter Fury trained heavyweight destroyers for years and understands exactly how to prepare big men for elite boxing competition. That experience became visible during Ricco Verhoeven’s performance against Oleksandr Usyk because the pressure, movement, conditioning, and composure looked far more polished than many critics expected.
After Francis Ngannou made the transition from MMA to boxing, many insiders believed he actually defeated Tyson Fury and got robbed on the scorecards. History almost repeated itself again when Ricco Verhoeven stepped from kickboxing into elite boxing to face Oleksandr Usyk. Performances like these completely change how boxing fans view the reputation and level of elite kickboxing and MMA fighters, as the old stereotype that they cannot compete in professional boxing slowly collapses as reality starts punching back.
Bas Boon, former president of Glory Sports, and Joris Boon with Ricco Verhoven in Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles.
Luxury Hotels, Bomb Shelters, and the Strange Reality of the Fight Game
My brother was on holiday in Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles when he suddenly bumped into Ricco Verhoeven, who was staying at the exact same hotel. A few seconds later, my WhatsApp lights up with a smiling picture and the message: “Guess who I just bumped into?” Funny how the law of attraction keeps working in the fight game because successful people somehow always end up crossing the same paths, whether inside boxing rings, luxury hotels, or during random morning walks.
One thing I genuinely respect about Oleksandr Usyk is his simplicity. No fake superstar behavior, no Hollywood nonsense, and no influencer energy every five minutes. Still, hearing him explain in broken English that parts of his family remain near bomb shelters in Ukraine makes you scratch your head a little. The man earned hundreds of millions through boxing, so most fathers would probably relocate the entire family faster than Floyd Mayweather buys another sports car. War, patriotism, and family pride clearly make people think differently.
(C) Bas Boon https://www.basboon.com