Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven: Is Usyk Finally Taking the ‘Easy Way Out’?

The World Boxing Council has officially sanctioned the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven after “careful consideration.” Oleksandr Usyk, the 39-year-old world-class boxing champion from Ukraine, will face Rico Verhoeven, kickboxing legend, on May 23 in Giza, Egypt. Usyk is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his generation, and the people across the community believe that by choosing Rico Verhoeven thinks that fighting a kickboxer (possibly under different rules) could be less risky than defending his titles against top boxing contenders.

Usyk has been one of the ruthless fighters and has already defeated elite names like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, earning wider recognition as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Verhoeven, on the other hand, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in kickboxing history. His dominance in GLORY Kickboxing made him a global name in combat sports. Verhoeven has limited boxing experience, which will make things simple for Usyk when he tries to defend the WBC heavyweight championship. 

For Usyk, the fight appears less risky than facing a top-ranked, career-heavyweight boxer who has spent years climbing the division. However, Verhoeven should not be disrespected because Elite combat athletes like him possess transferable skills, timing, distance control, conditioning, and composure under pressure. The experts from the community are strongly criticising Usyk, according to them, with legitimate heavyweight contenders waiting, Usyk should prioritize defending against established challengers rather than entertaining novelty bouts.      

British kickboxing legend Liam Harrison told Sky Sports that he believed Rico would have to “boot him in the leg” if he wanted to gain any sort of advantage over Usyk. He said that no one could beat Usyk in a boxing fight and insisted that Usyk was the best heavyweight on the planet and of this era. Harrison added that if fighters like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were unable to make a dent in him, then nobody else would be able to do so either. He repeated that Rico would need to throw a few leg kicks if he wanted to get the upper hand.

However, Harrison also said he understood why the event was happening. He described Rico as a legend in kickboxing and explained that athletes who paved the way and became the greatest of their generation deserved opportunities like this. He added that they deserved the big paydays and chances to showcase their skills, saying it would be nice to see the fight take place.

The Fight Will Be Undisputed Versus Undisputed, Says Rico Verhoeven

The whole community is keenly awaiting the match and how the events will unfold. At heavyweight, where power changes everything, unpredictability can be dangerous. One clean punch can alter a fight, regardless of experience. 

Reuters reported that Oleksandr Usyk said he respected Rico Verhoeven’s journey and described him as the “King of Kickboxing.” However, Usyk pointed out that boxing was a different sport with its own rules and its own kings. He stated that he was ready and looking forward to meeting Verhoeven in the ring, adding that it would be a unique experience for both of them. Usyk also said he knew the fans were excited and promised that a big night was coming.

Rico Verhoeven responded that he had spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and had accomplished everything he set out to achieve. He explained that staying at the top for so long had not diminished his hunger, but instead strengthened it. Verhoeven added that Oleksandr Usyk was the undisputed champion in boxing and that this was the kind of challenge that motivated him. He described the matchup as undisputed versus undisputed.

The fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, specially named as the ‘Glory in Giza’ fight, will be streamed live on DAZN