In the days before facing Usyk, Verhoeven has had a chance to visit the pyramids and recreate photos from when his mother visited in 1993. When he faces Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, on Saturday for his Ring and WBC titles in the main event of “Glory in Giza” on DAZN PPV, it’ll be the first time he’s fought since his mother passed away earlier this year.

“That was definitely something quite special,” Verhoeven told The Ring. “I was really thankful that I got the time to do that, to experience that and really be in that moment and create that.

“Especially these last years, it was hard for her to be at the events. A lot of times she was just watching on TV, and I know now she's with me everywhere, so that's a really nice and comfortable feeling. I feel blessed to have her as my guardian angel right now.”

Verhoeven added that having his mother as his guardian angel has given him strength ahead of facing The Ring’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter.

“I don't have to worry about anything,” Verhoeven said. “I know the people that I love are here. It's just enjoying the ride.”

Verhoeven, 37, is 66-10 with 21 KOs as a kickboxer and has one professional boxing match on his record, which he won by second-round knockout against a winless Janos Finfera in 2014. The Dutchman was the reigning heavyweight champion in Glory Kickboxing, the top kickboxing organization in the world, from 2013 to 2025.

Verhoeven vacated the title in November. He last fought on June 14, defeating former Glory light heavyweight champion Artem Vahitov by unanimous decision.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) is a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. The Ukrainian southpaw also accomplished the feat at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight, where he has gone 8-0 with three knockouts.

Usyk, 39, beat Daniel Dubois by fifth-round knockout in his last fight on July 19 to become undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time.

While most aren’t giving Verhoeven much of a chance, living up to his own expectations is his only concern when he makes the foray back into boxing.

“What an opportunity I have,” Verhoeven said. “That's how I literally approach it. A long time ago, I took a step back from living and trying to live up to people's expectations, or even thinking about, ‘Oh, people expect this from me.’ I expect something from myself, because you can never live up to other people's expectations, so don't even try.

If you do very well, there are going to be opinions. If you do very bad, there are going to be opinions. People will have an opinion regardless, so make sure you make yourself proud, you make the people around you proud and enjoy the journey and enjoy the process. That's where I'm at right now.”