Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk vs. Ricardo Verhoeven & Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. RBR.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by CST80, May 23, 2026.

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  1. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    He just fought a much smarter, far more accurate and heavier handed version of Chisora in there tonight, and KO'd him.
     
    CST80, May 23, 2026
    #1981
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  2. ubareem

    ubareem Member Full Member

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    He had Rico on wobbly legs in the 4th, but somehow stepped off the gas.
     
    ubareem, May 23, 2026
    #1982
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  3. PthePuncher

    PthePuncher New Member Full Member

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    It was a good stoppage. Verhoeven spit out his mouthpiece to buy time, the ref gave him the time and you could see how wobbled he was walking to the corner to get it replaced. Even with that time to recover as soon as the action started again he got nailed with 5 or 6 consecutive punches.
     
    PthePuncher, May 23, 2026
    #1983
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  4. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

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    Giving a non boxer a shot at the title in their second pro fight, leapfrogging the rightful guys that have been sacrificing in this sport at a chance to fight for those same titles, just for a little bit of extra money, and then for that very fight you show up not in your usual shape, and you underperform, and are actually losing the fight in many peoples eyes... I mean, idk, theres no sugar coating that to me.

    Is disgraceful too harsh? I think so, Id agree with you there. But theres no moral victory here just because Usyk pulled out a controversial win. This was horrible in every conceivable dimension.... the champion giving a non boxer a title shot, the champion showing up out of his usual shape, and then the champion actually genuinely losing multiple rounds to a non boxer and entered the 11th round with a genuine chance of not getting a victory.

    I wouldnt say Usyk is a disgrace, but it was a poor chapter for Usyk and for boxing.
     
    kirk, May 23, 2026
    #1984
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  5. PthePuncher

    PthePuncher New Member Full Member

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    I have to say though, Verhoeven looked great. He looked like a Soviet gold medalist in there. Constant motion, sharp heavy punches. He was beating Usyk up for a lot of the fight. He got ktfo but I hope he keeps boxing.
     
    PthePuncher, May 23, 2026
    #1985
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  6. Ph33rknot

    Ph33rknot Take the risk or lose the chance Full Member

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    I didn't watch this one how was it?

    I saw torres got starched lol I'm sorry I missed that one
     
    Ph33rknot, May 23, 2026
    #1986
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  7. ubareem

    ubareem Member Full Member

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    Apart from Usyk utilizing very little footwork or feints, where was his jab? He used the jab like only twice which snapped Rico's head back a little.

    Very strange performance from Usyk.

    But take nothing away from Rico, he did very well.
     
    ubareem, May 23, 2026
    #1987
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  8. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Let's remind some people about Usyk...

    UNDEAFEATED
    Undisputed cruiser
    Undisputed heavy
    12 combined title defenses
    14 combined title fight wins
    Never been off his feet
    Defeated 8 other titlists in 11 fights
    Beat the #2, #3, and #4 heavyweights of the era, all 2X titlists, in six fights.

    And, he was standing over Rico at the end of this fight.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 23, 2026
    #1988
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  9. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Punch count does not support the narrative of Rico dominating...

    Oleksandr Usyk landed 112 of 499 total punches (22.4%), while Rico Verhoeven landed 113 of 508 total punches (22.2%). Verhoeven held a narrow advantage in power punches (93 to 89), while Usyk held the edge in jabs (23 to 20) in the 11-round bout.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 23, 2026
    #1989
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  10. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

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    One thing I will say, is leading up to this fight Rico had already won me over. What a class act. He reminds me a bit of a Sergio Martinez type, in that everything he says seems genuine and thoughtful.

    Its hard to root for him if he fights a boxer because any success he has comes at the expense of boxing, but Id love if he could get himself the Ngannou fight and win that, and maybe even set himself up for the Jake fight and win that by stoppage in a big event, or head to the UFC and become champion there hopefully.

    War Rico.
     
    kirk, May 23, 2026
    #1990
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  11. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

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    The 11th began with Rico having landed more power punches in 7 of the 10 complete rounds.

    Thats 7 rounds to 3 in power punches landed, while being the one that was applying almost all of the pressure.

    He might not have been 'dominating' but he was clearly getting the better of the fight in most peoples eyes Id think.
     
    kirk, May 23, 2026
    #1991
  12. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Poor Torres
     
    ellerbe, May 23, 2026
    #1992
  13. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

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    Punch counts/stats are such a waste of time and resources.
     
    turbotime, May 23, 2026
    #1993
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  14. bandeedo

    bandeedo Loyal Member Full Member

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    the problem is that there are very few true elite boxers in the game. there are currently none at hw. so elite strikers from other combat sports can compete with these non elite hw boxers. you wouldnt find any non boxer being able to compete with a shakur, or inoue, or bam at their own weight. it wouldnt be close. the hw division is the weakest i have seen it in 50 years, and you know im not saying that because of today, ive been saying it almost a decade. this is just more proof of what ive been saying.
     
    bandeedo, May 23, 2026
    #1994
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  15. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    They really aren't since that is literally one of the categories of scoring.

    And since usyk scored the knockdown, the clean/hard punching argument can go his way too.

    If you want to say a fighter won, you have to find the metric by which he did.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 23, 2026
    #1995
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