Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Rico Verhoeven: Fight Preview And Prediction

We are now in an era that traditional boxing as we all know is fading away as crossover and influencer boxing has filled a hole no-one even knew existed. Over the years, combat sports has had some crazy match-ups and Dana White has just sent the internet in to meltdown with the signing of Conor Benn under Zuffa, that surely there is nothing left to shock the world.

Well, the rumours we all heard a few weeks ago have now come true, as boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk has signed to fight former Glory kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.

Usyk will put his WBC belt on the line as this is a boxing world championship bout. The fight is set to take place at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt on the 23rd May.

So, is this a ridiculous fight for boxing or does Verhoeven’s accolades make this a fair contest? Let’s dive in to the fighters and see how they match up.

Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk’s career will definitely put him down as one of the greatest boxers of all time. The Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist is undefeated and has become an undisputed champion in both Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions. He has beat Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois all on two occasions, so he has proven he can dominate against any style he is put in the ring with.

Rico Verhoeven

Verhoeven was named the ‘The King of Kickboxing’, and that is understandable too as he is the first to become the GLORY Undisputed heavyweight world champion in 2013. He remained undefeated for the next 12 years, holding his title for 4,418 days, longer than anyone else in the promotion’s history. Verhoeven has had a total of 76 professional kickboxing fights.

How to watch: Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

The fight is set to take place in Giza, Egypt on the 23rd May. It is available to watch on DAZN with walk-outs to the main event expected ro be around 10pm U.K time.

Tale Of The Tape

CATEGORY	Oleksandr Usyk	Rico Verhoeven
AGE	39	37
HEIGHT	6″3	6″5
REACH	78 inch	77 inch
PRO RECORD	24 Wins – 0 Losses	66 wins – 10 Losses
FIGHTING OUT OF	Ukraine	Netherlands

Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Rico Verhoeven: Final Prediction

This crossover matchup between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven is a fascinating clash of elite talent. Both have built remarkable careers at the top of their respective sports.

However, with Usyk competing under boxing rules, Verhoeven would be forced to abandon one of his biggest advantages of his kicks, which could prove limiting. We expect Verhoeven to come out fast and impose himself early, but as the rounds go on, Usyk’s ring IQ and adaptability should allow him to spot openings and gradually wear him down.

Final Prediction: Usyk to win by KO in round 4