# Boxing: Action hero Jason Statham played a role in Rico Verhoeven’s move from kickboxing to boxing, and tonight the Dutchman has a chance to clinch a WBC world tile in Egypt. He will face Ukrainian heavyweight great Oleksandr Usyk in Giza. Verhoeven bumbed into Statham at a fight in Las Vegas in 2024, and the actor told him he could probably beat many of the attending boxers. Statham mentioned Verhoeven to his close ally, Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who then contacted Verhoeven and convinced him to challenge Usyk.
Boxing: Jason Statham plays role in securing Verhoeven a title fight against Usyk