Rico Verhoeven has paid a moving tribute to his late mother by recreating photographs she took at the pyramids of Giza three decades ago. The Dutch kickboxing superstar, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport's history, will face unbeaten heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing match at the iconic Egyptian site on Saturday.
A Personal Loss During Fight Camp
Verhoeven, 37, revealed that his mother passed away earlier this year while he was preparing for the biggest fight of his boxing career. Speaking to The Ring, he shared the emotional story behind the photo recreation.
“I lost my mother earlier this year, and especially these last years it was hard for her to be at the events,” Verhoeven said. “So, a lot of times she was just watching on TV. And I know now she is with me everywhere, everywhere I go, so that’s a really nice and comfortable feeling. I feel blessed to have her as my guardian angel right now.”
He added: “I was really thankful that I got the time to recreate those photos, to experience that and really be in that moment and create that same picture that she made around 30 years ago.”
Discovering the Photos
In an earlier interview with Matchroom, Verhoeven explained how the idea came about. “Within this camp, my mother passed away. Then, like, how is it a positive thing? It is not, but I have to do something with it to make it easier for me to cope with,” he said.
“She passed away and we had to clean out her house, and what happened is: we came by pictures of her being in Egypt. Like, how crazy is that? I wanted to recreate that exact picture. I wanted to be in that spot where she was 30 years prior.”
Verhoeven described the experience as “so special” and shared the images on Instagram with a heartfelt message: “Dear mom, here in Egypt thinking about you… I’m writing this because I miss you. I feel your presence, thank you for being my guardian angel.”
Facing a Daunting Challenge
Verhoeven’s bout with Usyk, 39, is only his second professional boxing match, but he is no stranger to high-stakes combat. The Dutchman reigned as Glory heavyweight champion for 11 years and has won his last 22 fights. Usyk, meanwhile, is boxing’s unified heavyweight champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and remains undefeated.
Despite the odds, Verhoeven’s emotional connection to the pyramids and his mother’s memory may provide the inspiration he needs. The fight promises to be a historic event, set against the backdrop of the ancient wonders.
