Rico performed better than most expected. He had a game plan and was able to stick to it for most of the fight. Peter Fury deserves some credit. Rico deserves a lot of credit for coming ready and able to take it to the required level. However, this doesn't tarnish Usyk's legacy. He managed to weather the unpredictable storm, a supreme athletic specimen with a near perfect strategy. Usyk didn't need the judges to bail him out. He made the required adjustments, albeit late into the fight and stopped his opponent. It's a shame we'll never see what would've happened in the 12th round, but I think most people who have watched this sport a long time would agree that Rico was about to get KTFO. Rico was already slowing down visibly from the 5th round onwards. So yes, my opinion is that the exaggerations around Usyk's fall from grace are unfounded. He's pushing 40 and was losing a fight he ended up winning by stoppage. Still one of the greats to me. We can all agree that he's 100% past his prime now.
He was great, he may still be or he’s fading. We will see how Verhoeven performs against other fighters or in a rematch and we will see what Usyk has left in his next performance. This affects nothing of the past, if anything it celebrates Verhoeven’s ability and questions the fighters Usyk beat before it questions him. He is still the greatest of the era. He could get knocked out ten times in a row by Tommy Fury and it changes little, it would mean he’s a spent force.
He's definitely past his best. One more fight is probably about right unless he plans on fighting until he loses.
