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

Fury sparring Rico. This is from 2015, prior to the Klitschko fight.

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To be honest I don't know what is the challenge for Usyk to take Rico Verhoeven ??

It's the worst opponent on his career in world championships by far.

 

It’s fantastic to see you.


Yes, of course it’s debatable.

It depends on many factors.

Each fighter obviously takes their own path.

Each fighter has different circumstances surrounding them.


Usyk must have mileage.

Of course.

However, I do think that he’s still quite fresh as a professional, because he’s not had many pro fights.

He’s not had wars.

He hasn’t been knocked down, knocked out and taken a lot of punishment.

So even at an advanced age, he’s still in great shape.

IMHO, he wouldn’t be as fresh, had he have had less amateur fights and more professional fights, against mostly world level opposition.


Regarding a specific comparison between Tyson and Usyk, I’m not sure.

It’s hard to say isn’t it.

Usyk has been constantly training and fighting for years. So that must have put a huge toll on his body.

He probably hasn’t had the breaks that Tyson’s had.

But then at the same time, Tyson has abused his body with drugs, alcohol and food.

He’s been in hard fights.

He’s been knocked down several times.


It’s debatable.

 

As much as i hate this fight, i hope Rico can make it competitive aka Nnganou.

 

I think he probably has zero chance of winning, but a very good chance of making it more competitive than people think.

- He's a big boy
- He has the mentality and expectations of a combat sports champion
- He's been training with the Furies for 14 years
- He will present an awkward style that Usyk is not used to. Boxing has had any number of kickboxers (Troy Dorsey...James Warring...etc) successfully come over, and part of their success is that they do things a little bit off...similar to major league baseball players sometime having trouble hitting softball pitchers.

Again, I think he has no chance whatsoever of winning. But I bet this is entertaining.

 

Good to see you too.

Now let's not go changing the story
Anyone can do anything outside of the ring and live how they choose.
Do you really think less than 50 pro rounds where many of those will be against journeymen, just surviving equals possibly around 1000 more amateur rounds
Really?

 

Usyk v Rico early predictions?

 

Usyk wins. Rico has zero chance.

 

Call me crazy, but I think the pro boxer will beat the kickboxer in a boxing match.

 

Usyk decision

 

I’m not changing the story.

I don’t know who’s had the tougher career.

I think that Usyk is the fresher fighter.

He may have put more hours in training and fighting.

Yes, anybody can do anything outside of the ring.

But abusing your body like Ricky Hatton and Tyson have, must take a toll.

Tyson has abused his body for years. Gaining huge amounts of weights. Alcohol and various drugs. Both prescription and illegal.

He’s been knocked down.

Been in a few wars.

So who’s to say?

I think that Usyk is in much better shape, both physically and mentally.

So I don’t know who’s had the tougher career.

It’s subjective.

It would be for any comparisons.

The point is, I agree with Tyson, where he says that Usyk is still fresh, as he’s only had 24 pro fights.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken huge toll.

But he’s probably fresher than an average HW of that age, who’s had far more pro fights at the weight.

 

Usyk carries him and stops him late.

 

Rico by upset KO.

 

Wardley Round 12 TKO.

 

Usyk between round 5-8