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

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by BoxerMaurits, Feb 2, 2026.

?

Who would win?

  1. Rico Verhoeven

    17 vote(s)
    10.6%

  2. Oleksandr Usyk

    143 vote(s)
    89.4%
Page 40 of 50
  1. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Messages:
    83,888
    Likes Received:
    139,288
    Or Dubois II at the very latest

    People don't appreciate how insanely tough it is to go undefeated amateur and pro for 17 years, whilst fighting at the elite level throughout all of it sans his first 9 fights as a pro, let alone until at least 39 y/o whilst achieving everything he has, all of it on the road or in his opponent's backyards, running a murderer's row of KO artist and punchers, giving away the huge physical advantages he did at SHW in the WSB and has at HW in the pros, and facing opponents his own size when not facing giants not weight bullying much smaller ones like many others, and all via the art of clean boxing with zero use of illegal tactics.

    And doing all of that whilst not even being dropped by a headshot or badly hurt by one is beyond insane and being past his prime for many years too
     
    Serge, Apr 15, 2026
    #586
    joe91, catchwtboxing, Cyrion and 6 others like this.
  2. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Messages:
    83,888
    Likes Received:
    139,288
    Yeah, people just assume it makes it much safer but it was actually introduced to protect against cuts and facial damage
     
    Serge, Apr 15, 2026
    #587
    Kiwi Casual likes this.
  3. Drstillhammer

    Drstillhammer Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2024
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    170
    Drstillhammer, Apr 15, 2026
    #588
    heerko koois likes this.
  4. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2014
    Messages:
    39,933
    Likes Received:
    17,009
    I didn’t realize how much of a size difference there was. Usyk really is a tiny HW.
     
    ellerbe, Apr 15, 2026
    #589
    catchwtboxing likes this.
  5. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2021
    Messages:
    2,277
    Likes Received:
    3,632
    He’s a pretty typical HW size for most eras, just not the last 15–20 years. Rico’s more in line with the modern SHW sized combat athlete you see now. I believe he's 6'5", 270 lbs+
     
    MixedMartialLaw, Apr 15, 2026
    #590
    TheBestBoxName and catchwtboxing like this.
  6. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Sheerass is a good nickname Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2023
    Messages:
    8,590
    Likes Received:
    4,043
    That's what Fury and AJ though, Usyk is 6'3 and weighs 225 pounds, he's the same size as Ali was.
     
    Mark Anthony, Apr 16, 2026
    #591
    MaccaveliMacc likes this.
  7. Philosopher

    Philosopher Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2024
    Messages:
    1,924
    Likes Received:
    3,057
    And an inch shorter but half a stone heavier than 'big' George Foreman...
     
    Philosopher, Apr 16, 2026
    #592
    catchwtboxing and Mark Anthony like this.
  8. bailey

    bailey Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2009
    Messages:
    40,328
    Likes Received:
    3,428
    I will just stick with the last paragraph

    So if someone has 40 pro fights and 25 of them are learning/building fights, as well as 40 amateur fights where 15 of them were at top level you feel they would be far more shopworn in general than someone who has 20 pro fights with 5 of them are learning/building fights, as well as 200 amateur fights where 100 of them were at top level?
     
    bailey, Apr 16, 2026
    #593
  9. Loudon

    Loudon Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2012
    Messages:
    41,855
    Likes Received:
    11,160
    In that specific case, no.

    Again, it would depend on the circumstances.


    But my opinion is:

    If Usyk had fought less amateur fights, but say 50 pro fights, against mostly world level opposition, then he’d be more shop worn than he is currently.


    He’d have more miles on the clock, with 50 fight camps and 50 pro fights.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2026
    Loudon, Apr 16, 2026
    #594
    OddR likes this.
  10. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2025
    Messages:
    1,821
    Likes Received:
    3,476
    Agree with 90% of this one, Serge, but Usyk was obliterated by Korobov in the amateurs, dropped and stopped. Still doesn't take away any of his remarkable pro achievements, though. Unless you're referring solely to his pro career, then apologies in advance.
     
    TNSNO1878, Apr 16, 2026
    #595
  11. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2012
    Messages:
    30,060
    Likes Received:
    34,034
    Usyk is going to win this fight.
     
    MidniteProwler, Apr 16, 2026
    #596
    Pepsi Dioxide and catchwtboxing like this.
  12. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2014
    Messages:
    31,422
    Likes Received:
    42,276
    Hot take!
     
    catchwtboxing, Apr 16, 2026
    #597
    Pepsi Dioxide, MaccaveliMacc and MidniteProwler like this.
  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2007
    Messages:
    114,660
    Likes Received:
    51,455
    This is the type of weird fight that manifests when a fighter has absolutely traumatised the division. Usyk has just ruined this division. He is too good.
     
    McGrain, Apr 17, 2026
    #598
    Wizbit1013 likes this.
  14. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2020
    Messages:
    10,296
    Likes Received:
    13,859
    I've got another hot take

    Usyk should be favored in this!
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Apr 17, 2026
    #599
  15. rolzone

    rolzone Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2021
    Messages:
    616
    Likes Received:
    797
    Just saw a rico kickboxing match. I don’t think he stands any chance against Usyk. I was hoping it could be competitive I just can’t see it
     
    rolzone, Apr 17, 2026
    #600
    heerko koois likes this.
Page 40 of 50