Usyk vs Rico - Preview Video

I don't get the obsession with Opetaia. He's not even faced a run of the mill heavyweight yet, so it seems very premature to think he'd have a chance at the best one.

 

This is a non-title fight.

 

IBF release statement as Oleksandr Usyk's last title cleared in final ruling for Rico Verhoeven fight | talkSPORT

This counts for three title defenses apparently.

 

Apparently Dan Rafael just reported that Uncle Rico had just pushed the horses

 

I'm not buying the idea that Usyk has run out of people to defend against. Unless he's beaten every single person in the top 10, which he hasn't, it's a lazy argument, and it completely lets him off the hook for fighting a 1-0 kickboxer with the WBC title on the line. No other boxer gets this sort of breathing space.

 

Fight is irrelevant. Let's use it as a platform to shame all those involved.

 

Ah, but what you don't get is that he doesn't have to fight anyone else. Why? Don't think about it.

 

WBC belt on the line.

 

This may be true, but there is a very simple reason for it: being an eastern European fighter, Usyk doesn't draw like they want. They need to find opponents who draws money. Right or wrong, they thought this would be an "event" type fight that drew curious casuals.

Luckily, Turkyi seems to have committed to Kaybayel next.

 

I just posted something on the other thread that I am going to post nearly verbatim, if you will indulge me:

I just read someone on here saying that Turkyi wants to make the Kabayel fight for 2027. I don't mind this Rico fight as long as it means Usyk having two fights in the year, one against Kabayel, but THAT is outrageous. There is no reason Agit can't get a shot late this year.

And then he wants to make Benevidez. I understand that there are not a lot of viable heavies for a big fight right now, but if Parker is available by then, or Wilder is continuing his streak, I would still rather see either one of them than Benevidez.

It seems like Turkyi is playing Mephistopheles here, and offering Usyk as series of meaningless or ill-timed fights to run out his clock.

 

I don't think Usyk loses to anyone, not Kabayel or Itauma, at least not yet, and definitely not the likes of Benavidez, Parker or Hrgovic, but he can't also claim he has cleaned up the division if there are fighters in the top 10 who have waited their entire career for a shot, only to get leapfrogged by a kickboxer.

There's a part of me that doesn't blame Usyk for taking this insane money, but I feel like he'd have made a similar amount in retirement if he agreed to an exhibition vs Rico, especially after clearing out the entire HW scene. Rico is a legend of his sport and is clearly an elite kickboxer, I can also forgive it as a one off spectacle, it's the belts being on the line that has really riled me up.

 

To me it should have been his swan song fight, but like I said, I would be fine as long as he gets to Agit IMMEDIATELY.

 

2027 is inexcusable. Surely could be done for August/September!?

 

I wish it was Badr Hari instead of Rico. The fight, press conferences and face offs would be more interesting.

 

Will tune in for the non-existent chance of an upset, but I'm in the camp that wants to hear the Kabayel fight greenlit straight after - and not in 2027 (unless the Rico fight is much harder than I expect it to be)