Rico Verhoeven shared the emotional story of his father Joost Verhoeven's death by euthanasia in the Netherlands at age 56. Joost was physically strong but rapidly deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease, losing memory, motor skills, and coordination. Rico described the difficult final day, including how the first injection failed to work and his father woke up, requiring a second dose. The process took approximately two to two and a half hours because Joost's heart was so strong from a lifetime of training. Rico and his father had a strained relationship and barely communicated in recent years, but they reconciled on the day of death. Rico shared that he experienced a moment of profound connection when his father's eyes became clear just before the end. He reflected on mortality, energy, and what happens after death, stating he is not religious but believes energy persists somehow.
Rico Verhoeven, the Dutch kickboxing champion widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights in combat sports history, has opened up about the death of his father, Joost Verhoeven, who passed away by euthanasia in the Netherlands at the age of 56 following a rapid decline caused by Alzheimer's disease.
The 37-year-old Verhoeven, who stands six-foot-five and carries a professional record of 66 wins and 10 losses, shared the deeply personal account publicly, describing the circumstances surrounding his father's final hours. Joost had been physically strong throughout his life, and that strength complicated the process — the first injection administered did not take effect, causing Joost to regain consciousness before a second dose was required. Rico recounted that the procedure took approximately two to two and a half hours in total, a consequence of his father's exceptionally strong heart built through years of physical training.
Verhoeven was candid about the complicated nature of their relationship. The two had been largely estranged and barely communicated in the years leading up to Joost's death. On the day itself, however, they reconciled. Rico described a profound moment of connection when his father's eyes briefly became clear and lucid just before the end — a detail he spoke about with evident emotion.
Why it matters
- Verhoeven is among the most prominent figures in global kickboxing, and his willingness to discuss grief and family estrangement publicly carries significant weight for fans who follow him beyond the sport.
- His account offers a rare first-person perspective on euthanasia as practiced in the Netherlands, including the medical and emotional complexity of the process.
- Rico reflected on mortality and what follows death, noting he holds no religious belief but feels that energy continues to exist in some form after a person is gone.
