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

Usyk's footwork was truly poor, he was getting caught against the ropes, allowing his guard to be broken, and he'd lost that characteristic lunge for his bigger opponent, which he used to break and win fights.
It looked a bit like he expected after his last fight with Dubois to easily land a punch that would win him. Either age was catching up to him, wealth and accomplishment were taking their toll, or Rico surprised him so much that he couldn't recover at all. I mean, he eventually recovered and won, but all it would have taken was for Rico to survive the 12th round, constantly clinching or something, and the guy could have caused the biggest sensation in boxing.
Usyk should just give up. He's achieved everything, and then he'll eventually lose, because everyone finds a way.
And Rico must be taking the good stuff, because that ******* was jumping around the ring like a grasshopper and constantly moving his hands – it's unbelievable that he started slowing down so late. I wonder if his style just didn't suit Usyk or if he could do something. I have mixed feelings.

 

Dont make me insult you. Did Rico fight like a relentless pressure fighter here? The ****er used more lateral movement than a prime Usyk, ffs! Kabayel fights nothing like Rico; that is my freaking point! They have quite literally the opposite styles.
And! Just to be clear! I am not commenting on Kabayel´s chances. I am merely stating that whatever Kabayel brings to the table, its very different from Rico.

 

His best win is a 40+ year old Zhang. There's a bit of a gulf between that and someone like Usyk.

 

In other words they would have robbed Rico anyway. No surprise. Listen to vast majority of fans who watched the fight and most thought Usyk needed a stoppage.

 

Obviously Usyk is well past his prime. Rico was an extremely unconventional and unorthodox opponent for Usyk to have to prepare for and should have been given every opportunity to go out on his shield in the 12th. But the fact that Usyk was looking at Rico in the first place instead of Kabayel shows us that he's moved onto combat entertainment instead of proper professional championship boxing.

There is no reason for him to fight Kabayel or Itauma and he should retire to let the new generation finally get their feet off the ground.

Rico did incredibly well but anyone in the heavyweight top 5 that's operating in their prime would give him the AJ Ngannou treatment. You have to remember that he too is not exactly in his prime as a fighter and is largely in the combat entertainment industry at this point, of which this event was sort of his debut to a wider mainstream consciousness.

 

I'm not sure he stands up to the power of some of the other heavy hitting heavies like Wardley or Dubois. Obviously Itauma chins him. Hrgovic would make a good fight though.

 

If the judges thought that was a draw then the fix was in all along.

 

Another way of putting it: the rest of the division is average indeed, but Kab's above-average. Does he beat a 2019-2022 version of Usyk probably not, but THIS one? Very live.

 

Rico was about to get stopped anyways, I honestly think these boxers don’t take the crossover fighters that serious a that why they end up looking bad. Mayweather,fury, usyk…all looked flabby and like they didn’t train hard meanwhile their opponents train like their careers depended on it.

 

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The bell went before the ref even jumped in. ****ing ridiculous stoppage. I hate boxing at times.

Fantastic performance from the big Dutchman tonight.

 

Final thoughts on the fight.

Rico was better than expected I was impressed with his footwork, stamina, feints, he moved very well for a big guy.

No I don't think Rico was winning by a landslide but I had him 7-4 up going into the final round.

I think Rico deserved to be infront he was the effective aggressor and bullied Usyk in alot of the rounds.

I don't like the stoppage and for me it was terrible.

Yes Usyk probably would've stopped Rico in the 12th round. But atleast give him a chance in the final round the guy fought his heart out.

Before the fight I said Usyk was too heavy at 233 pounds and I was right. He looked sluggish at the weight and should never weigh over 230 pounds again.

What does the future hold for Usyk ? God knows I'm still in shock.

 

In that case its not as bad... Usyk 10-8 in the 11th puts Usyk up by 2.

 

Ye not really tho , Rico was done.. Usyk would have AT LEAST dropped him again in the 12th IMO.. looked **** yes but he sealed the deal. Banana skin averted.. i can give him a slight pass because he's 40 & like Ngannou you just dont know what you're facing.. so as bad as it looked a lot of people predicted it & unlike Fury he didn't need the cards. It was Floyd v McGregor all over again..

 

He fought Dubois less than a year ago... His fault for coming in too heavy/not preparing properly, he was slow because he was overweight

 

Yeah
Holyfield would have destroyed him