Elucidating Those Boggled Of Mind On What Transpired In The Great Usyk-Verhoeven Cataclysm Of 2026.

Just to add to this because I've seen some media scorecards and the average scorecards today.

Boxing News = 97-93 Rico
CBS = 96-94 Rico
Dan Rafael = 96-94 Rico
ESPN = 95-95
MMA Mania = 96-94 Rico
MMAFighting = 95-95
Sportskeeda = 98-92 Rico
The Independent = 97-93 Rico
The Sporting News = 97-93 Rico
USA Today = 97-93 Rico
World Boxing News = 97-93 Rico
Yahoo Sports = 96-94 Rico
Average scorecard = 96.42-93.58 Rico

So I would say the general consensus is that Rico was ahead on points going into the 11th round.

 

TLDR but I got the gist of it.

Obviously, Usyk greatly respected Verhoeven. He let him stay in the fight too long because of it. Verhoeven is strong but he's not that good of a fighter.

Usyk was ahead on the cards after 11. He would have stopped Verhoeven in the 12th. That said, all Mark Lyson did, in stopping the fight when he did, was make it look like the fix was in.

I think there are several HWs that will stop Verhoeven much earlier, if he chooses to continue his quest in the HW division.

 

Two very good posts there brother man. The only thing I take exception at is that any critiscm of Usyk is driven by an agenda and propagated by haters. I am a huge fan of Usyk albeit a pragmatic one. I don't have him in my top ten but have him as one of THE H2H all time fighters at the weight.

I'd never heard of Rico and, like you, did a little homework. I never bought this 'he can't go more than 3 rounds' or 'Usyk whenever he wants' BS. The guy is an elite athlete and like Usyk shows huge respect towards his sport and his fans. And that is my one criticism of Usyk here. He has been a consumate professional up till now but I feel, for whatever reason, he cut corners here and that is uncharacteristic of him. So. He gets a pass. Christ he dug deep, faced down adversity and on his worst night chopped down an elite combat athlete unbeaten in 15 years. What's not to like.

I still maintain he has an easy night against Kabayel who I think is terribly overrated and suspect any rematch v Rico doesnt see halfway; he'd be wise to fight both men within 3, certainly no more than 6 months of each other as he will not have time to grow mentally or physically lazy of 'fat in the mind' and in doing so could retire without any asterisk, real or imagined, on his career.

Mr. Usyk. The only thing you showed us on Saturday is that you are human. To err is human, the saying goes, but to forgive is divine. So come on guys, show this incredible warhorse some forgiveness. All y'all are shouting so loudly about are human vices, a tiny blemish on a spotless career. I hope he gets his shot together, does Kaba, does Rico and sails off into the sunset to become a find memeory. But please Mr. Usyk. Don't show these human frailties to often. Because another human trait is we are very ****in' fickle and our good nature and forgiveness is in short shrift in comparison to our disappointment and venom when our heroes fail to fill our bowls with pride. Its all or nothing I tell ya. Hypocrisy thy name is man...

Peace and love all, Px

 

Thanks for that Captain Obvious.

Please don't bother me again.

 

Pete Fury deserves a ton of credit. He played along the assumption that Usyk isn't an all-time great PUNCHER. Uppercut city, it should have been for Usyk. But he FINALLY clipped Verhoeven. Verhoeven didn't have the stamina to last the distance.

We've learned from Fury and Usyk.. you must take all heavyweight opponents seriously. Get your arse out there at 3:30 AM, pounding the pavement. Spar for 15/20 rds. etc. etc.

I want Usyk to get this guy out of there (earlier than he did).

 

Lol

 

I had to look up the word claxon but you are right. It is as simple as what you said.

 

And I would say that you are right about the consensus, but as we discussed the rounds were close, with Rico landing more power punches, but Usyk more jabs, and several times in the fight visibly wobbling Rico. There were founds that could go either way. Certainly the judges saw it a bit different, and I think a lot of people got caught up in the narrative of the commentary.

But again, good point.

 

In the end its all a moot point anyway as Usyk scored the stoppage.

It would've only been important had the fight gone the distance.

And even though I don't agree with the stoppage. I don't think there's anyway that Rico would've lasted the 12th round.