Rico Verhoeven vs Oleksandr Usyk official for WBC Heavyweight Championship — May 23 in Egypt (DAZN)

Truthfully I can't be bothered to track it back but it'll be in one of our exchanges

 

Because it spits in the face of those who have actually put in the work to climb the rankings. Someone who has only ever had one boxing match 12 years ago should not be leapfrogging over mandatories for a title.

Fury v Ngannous, as embarrassing as it was, was at least sold as a non-title fight. Not a legitimate defense.

 

Wilder himself said he wanted a tune up. He wasn't confident in beating the guy who whooped Fury

 

Not sure current Wilder would beat Rico lmfao.

 

Yes, but if the fight is made, and Verhouven manages to beat the best boxer in the world, then he IS the best boxer in the word. You are talking about the fact that you object to the fight, and I get that, but the guy who beats the champ is the champ.

 

Yes, so if it is pure theory, then why insist it is a non-title match when it doesn't make any sense to be a non-title match? If its all theory, then make it a title match like it should be.

 

I started a new job last month and so haven't yet had a chance to comment on this, but...

WTF, USYK?!!??!!

 

The man's country is in war, and he wants to earn as much as possible in few fights left in his career.

Leave Usyk alone and focus on more important things such as why Kabayel isn't fighting Itauma instead of some unknown boxer like Knyba.

Plus, I think Usyk vs Verhoeven will be a very entertaining fight.

 

My own personal theories are...

1) This is his Don Cockell fight. He is 39 years old and it is not at all out of the question that he had a back injury of some sort. He might want a low-bar fight to test himself.

2) The Kabayel fight seems to be already quietly made, and they probably had to give Turkyi what he wanted with this to get him to agree to throw money at that.

#2 is pure speculation, but I a pretty sure that #1 has some truth to it.

 

lol Itaumas team ducked Sanchez and yet you think they are going to fight Kabayel? lol

he has already made 100 plus million. His country being at war is terrible but has nothing to do with his bank account.

 

Don't forget to that according to Gassiev's camp, the phone lines with Itauma have been silent.

 

Uh, lots of Ukrainians are eating off of this guy. He is also putting his own money up starting charities to rebuild apartment complexes in Ukraine that got wiped out by the Russians. Hell, he was interviewed last year around the Dubois fight and said that there's tons of stuff he'd like to have (cars since he's a big car buff) but he won't buy it because there are more important things he needs to put the money towards in Ukraine.

 

Would be interesting to see how many of those picking the 1-0 guy to beat Usyk would be picking him if money was involved. My guess is none.

 

His charitable work is admirable but I doubt lots of Ukranians are eating off him. Even if this is true, he can fight Kabayel in Germany for just as much money.