How a kickboxing legend & Statham's pal landed a shot at Usyk

How a kickboxing legend & Statham's pal landed a shot at UsykTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, How an undisputed fight at the pyramids of Giza was influenced by Jason StathamByKal SajadBBC Sport boxing journalistPublished6 minutes agoIf Saturday delivers the most astonishing upset boxing has ever seen, the history books will have Jason Statham to thank.A chance encounter with Hollywood's go-to hard man has somehow landed Dutchman Rico Verhoeven - a kickboxing legend with just one professional boxing bout to his name - an unlikely WBC world title shot against heavyweight great Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt.It began when Verhoeven bumped into Briton Statham - a close ally of Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh - in Las Vegas in September 2024, during the Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez v Terence Crawford fight week."I know you can beat a lot of these guys, or maybe everybody," Verhoeven says Statham told him. "I said: 'Yeah, 100%'."By the next morning, things had escalated. Verhoeven was mid-run on a treadmill when Statham called him."'Yo, bro, I put your name out there. They loved it. They're down. They want to do it. They're going to reach out, I give them your number,'" Verhoeven says.Secrets, acting & 16 years unbeaten - in camp with UsykPublished23 hours agoUsyk v Verhoeven - all you need to knowPublished2 days agoVerhoeven was originally set to face Anthony Joshua but, when the Briton's career was stalled by a serious car accident in November, something even bigger emerged.On paper, Verhoeven challenging Usyk - a pound-for-pound great and one of the most complete fighters of his era - for the WBC title is absurd.But Verhoeven believes his inexperience and unpredictability could turn what many see as impossible into reality."Usyk has pulled the puzzle of boxing out and put it back together, but I'm...