Verhoeven is a solid HW contender by any reasonable standard

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Redbeard7, May 25, 2026.


Page 3 of 3
  1. tee_birch

    tee_birch Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,947
    5,175
    Jul 6, 2014
    I think Ricos next fight will answer all questions.

    I don’t see him beating anyone inside the top 15 personally.

    Novelty fights are always tough as their style is awkward, there’s no footage and a ton of pressure on the boxer to win.

    Add that to the fact Usyk wasn’t arsed, and you get a tougher than expected fight
     
    tee_birch, May 25, 2026
    tee_birch, May 25, 2026
    #31
  2. BoxingTalk88

    BoxingTalk88 New Member Full Member

    25
    40
    Nov 29, 2025
    This is a fair take. Those 2 years difference can certainly make enough of a difference with his speed\reaction time dropping off.
     
    BoxingTalk88, May 26, 2026
    BoxingTalk88, May 26, 2026
    #32
    Kiwi Casual likes this.
  3. humbug

    humbug In Vino Veritas banned Full Member

    2,032
    860
    May 1, 2006
    You’re right, Rico didn’t earn a title shot and hadn’t won a boxing match in 10 years yet he gave Usyk his best ever fight, what does that indicate? A non-boxer in Rico is certainly on the level, one could say that is evidence that the current approach/measuring stick for a boxers rank and ability is outdated and could be improved.

    Not to get too off topic but ultimately, that’s two non-professional boxers in the past two years in Rico and Ngannou, that have pushed two 'close to' prime heavyweight champions to the brink of defeat. That’s quite astonishing to be honest.
     
    humbug, May 26, 2026
    humbug, May 26, 2026
    #33
  4. Redbeard7

    Redbeard7 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    4,281
    3,265
    Oct 9, 2022
    Are those the most important standards?

    Did most of Wilder's contenders such as Molina or Stiverne 2 earn their shots?

    Do you need to win under the lights to be better than a contender like Pianeta?

    In terms of opponent difficulty in a one-off fight, Rico and Ngannou are probably above average contenders. The idea that these SHW elite striking athletes with 15 years or more training boxing at a high level are "novices" is boxing myopia.
     
    Redbeard7, May 26, 2026
    Redbeard7, May 26, 2026
    #34
  5. chacal

    chacal F*** the new normal Full Member

    9,479
    6,376
    Jun 21, 2015
    Yes, he is
     
    chacal, May 26, 2026
    chacal, May 26, 2026
    #35
  6. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

    84,199
    139,884
    Jul 21, 2009
    With the exception of 4 white collar fights, Fabio Wardley had like 42 incomplete rounds of boxing experience as a pro going into his bout with Adeleye who was a junior and senior ABA champion the vast majority of his opponents in those fights being bums and domestic level journeymen.

    In his next 3 fights he beat Olympic bronze medalist and Commonwealth gold medalist Clarke, world amateur youth gold medalist and world amateur championships senior bronze medalist Huni, and world junior youth silver medalist and former WBO HW champ J-Park.

    Most of his learning and gaining experience came in the gym sparring top HWs not from blowing out all those bums and journeymen. You'll learn far more sparring top HWs in the gym than bowling over bums in sanctioned fights

    Rico has been training boxing for 15 years with top trainer Peter Fury and was so bad at boxing Belly enlisted his services as one of his chief sparring partners for the biggest fight of his life and by far his greatest ever win Wlad 11 years ago

    Dave Allen a year ago reflecting on his experience sparring Rico way back in 2014 so 12 years ago when Rico had only been training with Peter Fury for a few years

    ''Rico was bloody good you know! He was really good''

    ''I remember thinking to myself this will be easy because he's not a boxer, I'm a boxer''

    Listen to what he says about how physically strong Rico was and how Rico was able to push him back and have him on the backfoot. Allen says he himself is really physically strong and no one ever pushes him back. He then thought to himself OK, I'll just outbox him instead only to find out that Rico had a ''brilliant jab''

    ''He was really good. I had to spar well just to hang with him. He was big, strong, good jab, good basic defence''

    This content is protected
     
    Serge, May 26, 2026
    Serge, May 26, 2026
    #36
    Redbeard7 likes this.
Page 3 of 3