Verhoeven said the WBC’s recognition of kickboxing and Muay Thai titles helped explain why the sanctioning body approved the matchup.
“When they said it will be for the WBC title, I was super excited. To me, it makes sense,” said Verhoeven to The Ring.
“Only the WBC acknowledges kickboxing and has a Muay Thai belt as well. So they understand my kickboxing credentials.”
“I understand if you don’t know that, it’s easy to say, how does this guy skip the line like that?”
That last point is likely to remain the focus. Heavyweight contenders spend years climbing ratings systems, taking eliminators, and waiting for mandatory positions. Verhoeven, by contrast, moves directly into a championship fight with a 1-0 boxing record because of achievements earned in another combat sport.
The WBC has often defended crossover flexibility as a way to create major events, but critics argue that the approach weakens the purpose of rankings when exceptions are made for marketable attractions.
Verhoeven is an accomplished kickboxing champion and a proven draw, but boxing titles have traditionally been tied to boxing results. That distinction is why this decision continues to draw heat.
Usyk remains a heavy favorite heading into the bout, and if he wins, the controversy may fade quickly. If Verhoeven were to pull off the upset, the debate around how he reached the position would only grow louder.
The fight is scheduled for May 23 at the Pyramids in Egypt.
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