Alistair Overeem vs. Rico Verhoeven boxing match reportedly in talks

Former UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem and Glory kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven are reportedly in negotiations for a heavyweight boxing match in Amsterdam, according to reports shared by Overeem's representatives at Black Book PR. The matchup would take place at Johan Cruijff ArenA and would mark the culmination of a rivalry that nearly materialized on two previous occasions.

According to Boxing.media's report, the boxing contest is envisioned as the first of a proposed trilogy spanning three different combat sports disciplines. Should all three bouts materialize, Overeem and Verhoeven would follow their boxing clash with subsequent MMA and kickboxing encounters, creating a unique multi-sport competition between two Dutch heavyweight legends.

Overeem, a former UFC title challenger with extensive kickboxing credentials, has been inactive in mixed martial arts since losing to Alexander Volkov in 2021. He returned to kickboxing in 2022 for a fight against Badr Hari, initially winning by decision before the result was overturned to a no-contest following a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. Verhoeven, meanwhile, is regarded as one of modern kickboxing's most elite heavyweights, boasting an unbeaten streak of 22 bouts in that discipline. His most recent outing came in May when he faced Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing match, losing via a controversial stoppage in the final seconds that drew widespread criticism from observers.