KICKBOXING legend Rico Verhoeven is stepping out of his comfort zone and straight into a historic boxing showpiece.
The Dutch giant is set for the fight of his life against boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk, and his glamorous fiancée Naomy Van Beem will be right by his side.
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Naomy and Rico are all smiles when they are seen together Credit: instagram @naomyvanbeem
From sparring with Tyson Fury to a stunning rags-to-riches romance, here is everything you need to know about the powerhouse couple taking over the sports world.
Who is Rico Verhoeven?
Born April 10, 1989, Rico is a Dutch kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial aritst.
He has continually been ranked as the number 1 heavyweight kickboxing champion in the world since 2014, when the rankings first started, and he has been GLORY’s longest reigning heavyweight champion.
Rico Verhoeven during the Kick Boxing World Championship in 2016 Credit: Getty – Contributor
Verhoeven started fighting at the age of 5 when he was trained in martial arts by his Father, a karate black belt.
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Due to his large size, he started competing with adults when he was just sixteen.
Rico is known for his sparring with the Furys which he has discussed with JattvibeSport.
He told us: “The Furys were training in Belgium and I wanted to evolve in boxing.
“So we went sparring and it just kept happening, Tyson was sparring with a lot of guys but most of them – after one or two sessions – said ‘that’s enough for me’.
“I got my ass kicked as well but I knew I could learn a lot from Tyson and from his then trainer Peter.
Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven competes against Russian kickboxer Artem Vakhitov during the fight for the world heavyweight title at the kickboxing event Glory 100 at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam on June 14, 2025. (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Credit: AFP
“We sparred and sparred and sparred and finally I asked Peter if he had the time to train me and he said yes.
“There was a mutual respect because they were having trouble finding sparring partners and we were more than willing to do it.
Birmingham, England. Red carpet arrivals at the premiere of “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.” Pictured: Rico Verhoeven Pictured: rico verhoeven,robyn gunn Ref: BLU_S9809840 020326 NON-EXCLUSIVE Picture by: IPA / SplashNews.com Splash News and Pictures USA: 310-525-5808 UK: 020 8126 1009 eamteam@shutterstock.com World Rights, No Spain Rights, No Portugal Rights, No France Rights, No Italy Rights Credit: Splash
“I think they have helped with my strengths in kickboxing, people tell me I am the best because of my footwork and movement and fitness and switch-hitting but that is what we have got from them.”
Rico has also taken to the screen, you might recognise him from: The Black Lotus, Kickboxer: Retaliation or his voice from the Dutch Version of 20th Centruy Fox’s Ferdinand.
Who is Rico Verhoeven’s fiancee Naomy Van Beem?
Naomy Van Beem is a glamorous fitness mogul that forms one half of the Dutch power couple that is her and Rico Verhoeven.
She was raised in Amsterdam and has talked about her turbulent childhood: “My mother raised me alone, my father was not in my life. When I was two, we moved to Slotermeer, where we ended up on the fourth floor in a small apartment in a not very good neighbourhood.
Naomy posted this pic of her and Rico on Instagram to celebrate ‘half a decade’ by his side Credit: Instagram @naomyvanbeem
“My mother always provided us with everything, even though she really had to make ends meet. But we didn’t actually notice that.
“Only as you get older do you realise how she had to do her best to keep her head above water.”
She later decided found out her biological father was living in Miami.
After initially spurning the chance to seek him out, she sought to build a relationship with him and now often flies back and forth to pay him a visit.
“I always thought: if he doesn’t miss me in his life, why should I have to look for him? I have never actually missed a father figure.
“But when I had a child myself at the age of twenty-two, it started to bother me and I went to see him.
“He lives in Miami and has been in my life for almost thirteen years now. I now have a good relationship with my father and recognise a lot of myself in him.
“Now know where these character traits of mine come from. I regularly fly back and forth to Miami.”
After celebrating Valentine’s Day together, Naomy posted a sweet Instagram dedicated to Rico.
Naomy posted this pic of her with Rico with the caption: “thank you for being my real life Tarzan” Credit: Instagram @naomyvanbeem
The caption reads: “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.
“Half a decade by your side, and we’re still as close as ever.
“You’re not just my Valentine today, you’re my forever. I love you.”
