--- title: "Verhoven Warms Up His Hands: The Dutchman Sets the Stage for a Return to Boxing and a Fight with the IBF Champion" description: "Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoven has posted training camp footage, fueling interest in his return to boxing. Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh is already pushing a fight for him against IBF champion Filip Hrgovic." date: 2026-09-15T13:34:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/riko-verhoven-prepares-for-fight-with-hrgovic tags: [kickboxing, boxing, rico-verhoven, filip-hrgovic, usyk, saudi-arabia, ibf] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Verhoven Warms Up His Hands: The Dutchman Sets the Stage for a Return to Boxing and a Fight with the IBF Champion ![Verhoven at the press event ahead of his boxing return and IBF title fight](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/15/riko-verhoven-podgotovka-k-boyu-s-hrgovichem/riko-verhoven-podgotovka-k-boyu-s-hrgovichem-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Rico Verhoven posted Instagram footage of him working on a double-end bag and a spring bag, indicating boxing-specific preparation. - Turki Al-Sheikh is seeking to arrange a fight for Verhoven against IBF champion Filip Hrgovic. - Filip Hrgovic recently won the IBF title by knocking out Moses Iitauma in the 9th round. - Verhoven himself previously stated that a rematch with Alexander Usyk is his priority, creating a conflict with the Saudi scenario. Rico Verhoven, the world kickboxing star and former opponent of Alexander Usyk, has once again drawn public attention by posting fresh footage from his training camp on social media. In the video, the athlete is seen working on a double-end bag and a heavy bag on springs — exercises that are characteristic of boxing, rather than kickboxing, training. According to Sport RBC.UA, citing Verhoven's Instagram page, such posts appear to serve as a signal of his intentions to return to professional boxing and find a new opponent. ### The Training Camp as a Public Signal For a fighter of this caliber, posting training clips is not merely a report on routine, but a tool for managing the attention of fans and the betting market. The double-end bag and spring bag work directly point to a boxing-specific preparation, which, combined with Verhoven's past statements about his desire to continue his career in the gloves, reads as preparation for a major event. Thus, the Dutchman is effectively "heating up" interest in his own return without revealing specific dates or opponents. ### The Saudi Vector: Turki Al-Sheikh's Ambitious Plan In parallel with the fighter's own public signals, a concrete initiative has already emerged in the background. The head of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, is reportedly seeking to arrange a bout for Verhoven against the newly crowned IBF world champion Filip Hrgovic. The Croatian boxer recently pulled off a major upset, defeating British prospect Moses Iitauma by technical knockout in the ninth round, which has made his title — and himself — an extremely attractive target for high-profile fights in the Middle East. ### A Rematch with Usyk: The Dutchman's Personal Stance At the same time, one should not forget Verhoven's own narrative. He previously stunned the public by stating his desire to fight a rematch with Alexander Usyk, calling that bout the one he wants above all else. This position adds an extra layer of anticipation: fans and analysts are trying to reconcile the fighter's personal will with the commercial plans of the Saudi organizers, who, it seems, are considering a different, no less spectacular option for him. ### Contradictory Data Here there is a clear discrepancy between two lines. On the one hand, Verhoven himself publicly emphasizes the rematch with Usyk, positioning it as his priority fight. On the other hand, Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh is pushing a scenario featuring a bout against IBF champion Filip Hrgovic. Neither side has yet confirmed a final fight announcement, and the camp footage published by Verhoven contains no direct indication of a specific opponent. Thus, both scenarios remain at the stage of intentions and public statements, and the final choice of opponent may depend on agreements between the camps and the promoters. ### What Comes Next In the coming weeks, the key factor will be what official announcements emerge from the Saudi promoters and from Verhoven himself. If Al-Sheikh's initiative is realized, we will see a fight with Hrgovic; if the Dutchman's position remains the priority, talks of a rematch with Usyk will reach a new level. For now, the publication of training footage is a confirmed fact, while a specific bout is still merely a matter of expectations and conflicting versions. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Preparing for a New Challenge: Verhoven Begins Preparation for a Fight with the IBF Champion](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/gotuetsya-novogo-vikliku-verhoven-pochav-1789477042.html) - Подтверждает публикацию кадров из тренировочного лагеря и контекст подготовки к бою с чемпионом IBF. - [Verhoven Expresses Desire to Fight a Rematch Against Usyk](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/sport/_verhoven-vyrazil-zhelanie-provesti-povtornyj-boj-protiv-usika/1251688) - Подтверждает заявление Верховена о желании реванша с Усиком. - [Verhoven Claims the Referee Stopped the Fight with Usyk Too Early](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/sport/_verhoven-zayavil-chto-referi-rano-ostanovil-boj-s-usikom/1251164) - Подтверждает заявление Верховена о желании реванша с Усиком. - [Verhoven on a Rematch Against Usyk: "This Is the Only Fight I Want Right Now"](https://www.sports.ru/boxing/1117226474-verxoven-o-revanshe-protiv-usika-eto-edinstvennyj-boj-kotoryj-ya-xochu.html) - Подтверждает приоритет реванша с Усиком в публичных заявлениях нидерландца. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Rico Verhoven post on social media? **A:** He posted video from his training camp showing him working on a double-end bag and a spring bag — exercises characteristic of boxing preparation. ### Q: Who does Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh want to see as his opponent? **A:** According to available information, Turki Al-Sheikh is seeking to arrange a bout for Verhoven against the new IBF champion Filip Hrgovic. ### Q: How has Verhoven himself spoken about the future? **A:** He previously stated that a rematch with Alexander Usyk is the only fight he wants at this moment. ### Q: Has a specific fight been scheduled yet? **A:** No. The publication of the footage and the statements from both sides are confirmed, but the bout itself has not yet been officially scheduled — these are only plans and intentions.