Oleksandr Usyk says Rico Verhoeven was the toughest opponent of his Boxing career

People dont understand it was Ricos guard and his weird body shape. His left shoulder kept him guarded when he charged in which made counters very difficult. He also defended the uppercut well for a novice. His offense was amateur but he was tough for Usyk to hit.

Its important to note that AJ would OBLITERATE Rico because size disparity. Rico cant bum rush a larger, stronger big guy especially since he has little power himself and smothers his own work.

 

That's why i am not interested in seeing him again vs usyk. Let him fight some top 20 fighter. Joshua or dubois would be nice, both are occupied, though. Maybe ajagba, bakole or vianello would be right.
I would even be interested if he can avoid to be knocked out by zhang.

Apart from that i have to admit you're right and it is an absolute achievement by him and his team to be able to bother usyk like that with a taylormade style.

 

What makes you think that? He even admitted that Fury beats him up. And I don't think AJ or DuBois are that much worse than Fury. Actually both those guys are younger than Rico so being younger and probably as strong (or stronger) than Rico with better boxing fundamentals they would certainly be favored to beat him.

 

Fury/Rico would be 50/50ish to me, as I believe Fury has regressed as a fighter under Sugar Hill, (in addition, his bad habits have caught up with him) and Rico has Peter Fury in his corner, so who better to have when he's the guy who trained Fury at his peak? Probably the most interesting fight atm.

AJ is damaged goods at this point, and hasn't beaten a notable opponent in years. There's a reason his tune up is so abysmal, and if Jake Paul can last 6 rounds against him then i'd expect Rico to pick him off with his seemingly insane engine and movement.

Dubios is incredibly basic and overrated, relying heavily on fouls to gain an advantage and has been flattered a little too much by brawling other plodders. He's probably the easiest one to pick up a belt from atm. All Rico needs to do is avoid being drawn into a firefight and frustrate him with lateral movement so he can't plant his feet/becomes open to counters when he leaps forward.

 

Size disparity? Should have let AJ know about that in the Ruiz 1 fight

In all seriousness though, Rico will likely have a different approach when he faces other fighters.

 

You got to be kidding me. I don't know where to start here lol.

1) Fury is still beating Rico. He'll box his head off. He can't maul Fury like he did Usyk. 80/20 Fury.
2) You're really putting some thought about how long Jake Paul survived AJ? If AJ wanted to end it in the 1st round he would have. AJ might be damaged goods, but he still has a lot of power and better boxing fundamentals and has plenty of championship experience. 70/30 AJ.
3) Still, DuBois would be the betting favorite to beat Rico. He's a lot younger and Rico is too heavy to last a full 12 rounds and his stamina would eventually go just like it did with Usyk. 75/25 DuBois.

 

I feel pity for y'all, thinking this big oaf is worth a damn. He gets comically destroyed by the first fringe heavyweight who actually tries and prepares.

 

1. Fury almost lost to Ngannou of all people. His decline is very apparent in recent years.

2. Sure he could. Thats why Jake Paul was landing flush and AJ was unable to cut off the ring. The only decent boxer AJ has faced in recent years knocked him out in 5 rounds.

3. Rico kept up pace against Usyk with constant movement and pressure, and you think he couldn't both keep up with Dubios or even outbox him? Lmao. If Dubios is the favourite then that's easy money.

 

The size thing will matter for Rico facing AJ. Part of his tactic was to physically bully someone shorter and smaller. He cannot do that to a larger person. I could be wrong, but I think Rico is a 1-Act Diva...in that specific matchup, where hes fighting a smaller and older counter-puncher, Rico will always look good. In most matchups though he will look like the novice he is

 

Up until now, Usyk has maintained Fury was his toughest opponent. Both gave him plenty of challenges.

 

Rico is technically bigger than AJ is. Same height, Rico outweighs him by about 15lbs.

I don't think AJ has it in him at this stage of his career anymore.

 

AJ obliterates Rico. For Rico's style to work the opponent has to be smaller AND. a counter puncher. Against someone like AJ it would NOT work at ANY stage.

The Ruiz that beat AJ in fight 1 would also brutally stop the Rico that troubled Usyk. That Ruiz wouldve also troubled Usyk, too, though I think Usyk wins via decision or late stoppage. That Ruiz would've greatly troubled Wilder too...not sure if Ruiz figures out to move forward but he was moving forward against AJ in which case he wouldve surprised and beaten Wilder too.

 

Rico’s weight is more in his legs; AJ’s is more in his torso. For whatever that’s worth.

 

All of AJs losses has been against smaller opponents with the exception of Dubios who is roughly the same size.

The idea that AJ would do better than Usyk is laughable to me, but I'm happy to eat my hat if it happens

 

Punching power comes from the legs, not torso