Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

[Nightmare Roy]

It's unbelievable that people are getting title shots without being a contender. How is this all happening? Governing bodies are allowing it, it's crazy

It's the WBC every time right? Pacquiao out of retirement, Ngannou's debut, Ryan Garcia's after his ban and now Verhoeven were/are all for the WBC title

WBC is laughable

[joshj909]

It's unbelievable that people are getting title shots without being a contender. How is this all happening? Governing bodies are allowing it, it's crazy

It's the WBC every time right? Pacquiao out of retirement, Ngannou's debut, Ryan Garcia's after his ban and now Verhoeven were/are all for the WBC title

I don’t think it on the line for Ngannou

True but they permitted it was a weird exception if I remember correctly

[MightyWarrior]

I’ve never heard of him, but if he was good enough to be a boxer, wouldn’t he have made much more money doing that than in any of the other combat sports? Or maybe that’s not the case any more ?

Anyway nothing new, as novelty heavyweight title fights go right back to Floyd Patterson and Jack Johnson.

Boxers often make atleast 10x more than kickboxers at their comparable level. Verhoeven was probably paid close to 500k for a couple of his biggest fights whereas against others in recent years would've been 100-200k maybe. Prior to that he would have been on about 10k or less per fight.

If he was good enough, he would have moved over earlier.

Thanks for clarifying, that’s what I thought, 500Kis is peanuts when you look at what Tyson and Joshua are making. Probably as a journeyman heavyweight, he wouldn’t have made that type of money he’s making at kickboxing

[MightyWarrior]

I’ve never heard of him, but if he was good enough to be a boxer, wouldn’t he have made much more money doing that than in any of the other combat sports? Or maybe that’s not the case any more ?

Anyway nothing new, as novelty heavyweight title fights go right back to Floyd Patterson and Jack Johnson.

In Holland kickboxing is by far the more popular sport.

Yeah it must be I’m struggling to think of any decent Dutch boxers, Alix Blanchard, a light heavyweight I vaguely remember

[joshj909]

I’ve never heard of him, but if he was good enough to be a boxer, wouldn’t he have made much more money doing that than in any of the other combat sports? Or maybe that’s not the case any more ?

Anyway nothing new, as novelty heavyweight title fights go right back to Floyd Patterson and Jack Johnson.

Boxers often make atleast 10x more than kickboxers at their comparable level. Verhoeven was probably paid close to 500k for a couple of his biggest fights whereas against others in recent years would've been 100-200k maybe. Prior to that he would have been on about 10k or less per fight.

If he was good enough, he would have moved over earlier.

Thanks for clarifying, that’s what I thought, 500Kis is peanuts when you look at what Tyson and Joshua are making. Probably as a journeyman heavyweight, he wouldn’t have made that type of money he’s making at kickboxing

Just looked it up. His highest purse before would have been about £370k. The next highest would be maybe 2 more times at around the 150-200k mark. Then a load under 100k with most coming at about 10k. He'll earn substantially more for this one fight than the rest of his career combined.

[mickey1975]

Boxers often make atleast 10x more than kickboxers at their comparable level. Verhoeven was probably paid close to 500k for a couple of his biggest fights whereas against others in recent years would've been 100-200k maybe. Prior to that he would have been on about 10k or less per fight.

If he was good enough, he would have moved over earlier.

Thanks for clarifying, that’s what I thought, 500Kis is peanuts when you look at what Tyson and Joshua are making. Probably as a journeyman heavyweight, he wouldn’t have made that type of money he’s making at kickboxing

Just looked it up. His highest purse before would have been about £370k. The next highest would be maybe 2 more times at around the 150-200k mark. Then a load under 100k with most coming at about 10k. He'll earn substantially more for this one fight than the rest of his career combined.

A fight that he wouldn’t have got hadn't he achieved so much in those lower paid kickboxing fights..

[keithmoonhangover]

Indeed, kickboxers have had a lot of success in heavyweight boxing. Vitali Klitschko. Dillian Whyte. Big Baby Miller. Alexander Povetkin. This isn’t a wrestler boxing Usyk. It’s a man who has knockout power and stands up when fighting

All the boxers named had tons of actual boxing experience before challenging the best in the division, they didn't just fight Usyk.

[coneye]

Few years ago , i had a influx of kickboxers coming to my gym to try and better there hands, i welcomed them with open arms has they were all tough and liked hard sparring , but at the time i already had 3 national title ameteurs and numerous state title ameteurs , the kick boxers were couple national champs and couple state champs at there field , obviously not with me with a proper kickboxing coach .

. However dispite each of them getting better and each of them finding the hands improvement beneficial , they were stil that level below , the kick boxer national champ just could'nt cut in at national boxig level and was more state the state kickboxing champ could'nt win the state boxing titles , .

Maybee given they were at the time to just choose boxing only i suppose a few could of jumpd levels , but thing is has boxers they were using 2 weapns kickboxing with elboes and knees it was 8 . Whilst Peter FURY SAYS HE'S WORKED WITH HIM ON HANDS FOR 15 YEARS OR SO , I DOUBT VERY MUCH HE'S BEEN AT uSYKS LEVEL , SPARRING hughe and maybee above HUGHIES LEVEL WOULD'NT SUPRISE ME ,

Me thinks this is more about a sellable fight for Usyk without much chance of a loss , and a stuff you Mr Warren , when your fighters can't get a crack at the title , were gonna sign them too

Interesting, do you think it's that kick boxing doesn't have the depth of talent boxing does?
For me seeing a kick boxer move to boxing the footwork seems a struggle , squaring up leading to lack of punching power and head held high seem to be issues.

Without a doubt i think the talent is there , i was sure its the old saying wearing too many hats , what i find was there real love was always kick boxing and that was the drawback , your correct , there too square on , they tend to use a lot more arm punches because of balance , BUT given they were all tough if they spent the time in the gym you got them going well then there kick boxing coach would change them back , myself i always told them i'll help you to learn the technique and balance and footwork but how you apply that with kicks is between them and there kick boxing coach , i always knew if you put the hard word on them , one or the other they would pick the kick box , so i just allowed it for what it was , you come you train , you spar and help your gym mates , on the way you win a few fights great , but really its about the sparring and helping the boxers .

Plus for me it was also ego i took great pleasure in when them lads fought for titles kickboxing titles that is , they would send me a ticket and more often than not i seen them win with there punches ,

Working with a lot of these guys i always thought they were very very tough guys , and a lot were very talented ,

who knows how good this Rico is , and more too the point how good he could of been if he had stuck to fighting with 2 weapons instead of 6 or 8 depending on the rules , But one thing i am convinced about is he will be levels below Usyk , like i said it just smells to me like there keeping Franks boxers out of the mix

[joshj909]

Thanks for clarifying, that’s what I thought, 500Kis is peanuts when you look at what Tyson and Joshua are making. Probably as a journeyman heavyweight, he wouldn’t have made that type of money he’s making at kickboxing

Just looked it up. His highest purse before would have been about £370k. The next highest would be maybe 2 more times at around the 150-200k mark. Then a load under 100k with most coming at about 10k. He'll earn substantially more for this one fight than the rest of his career combined.

A fight that he wouldn’t have got hadn't he achieved so much in those lower paid kickboxing fights..

Correct and I'm not arguing that. It's more to do with the fact that some people seem to think he's a high level boxer. If he was a high level boxer, he would have been in boxing where he would have earned a tonne more money.

[keithmoonhangover]

If he was a high level boxer, he would have been in boxing where he would have earned a tonne more money.

Exactly.

[MasterG]

If he was a high level boxer, he would have been in boxing where he would have earned a tonne more money.

Exactly.

Out of all his kick boxing bouts, never fought for a title of any description. He's not even kick boxed at higher than novice 5 round level.

What actually broughtt him to Usyks attention to be a worthy opponent better than the likes of Joseph Parker?

[joshj909]

If he was a high level boxer, he would have been in boxing where he would have earned a tonne more money.

Exactly.

Out of all his kick boxing bouts, never fought for a title of any description. He's not even kick boxed at higher than novice 5 round level.

What actually broughtt him to Usyks attention to be a worthy opponent better than the likes of Joseph Parker?

This is incorrect. If you're going by Boxrec's database I'm assuming it doesn't include title information for kickboxing as the orgs aren't WBC, WBO or IBF. He was Glory heavyweight world champ for over a decade. Glory is the highest level in kickboxing these days. Kickboxing fights are generally 3 rounds with 5 round fights reserved for significant title fights.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[JamesPhilips]

This is a truly awful fight. At least Ngannou could punch. Rico is not known as a puncher. Easy money for Usyk

[mickey1975]

Indeed, kickboxers have had a lot of success in heavyweight boxing. Vitali Klitschko. Dillian Whyte. Big Baby Miller. Alexander Povetkin. This isn’t a wrestler boxing Usyk. It’s a man who has knockout power and stands up when fighting

All the boxers named had tons of actual boxing experience before challenging the best in the division, they didn't just fight Usyk.

I'm not defending the match but he was in the Fury camp over ten years ago sparring Tyson, Hughie Dave Allen, Eddie Chambers... he isn't brand new to it. People always say stuff to make it sound more extreme. It's like Allen beating Fisher was just beating up a student rugby player, as if he'd just come out of a lecture. Why don't we just say the allies made hard work of beating an Austrian painter in World War two?

[keithmoonhangover]

What actually broughtt him to Usyks attention to be a worthy opponent better than the likes of Joseph Parker?

If you don't know the answer to the question, the answer is almost certainly money.

[mickey1975]

If he was a high level boxer, he would have been in boxing where he would have earned a tonne more money.

Exactly.

You would have to be top ten to be getting that money. Could he have maintained a top ten position for ten years plus?

[keithmoonhangover]

Indeed, kickboxers have had a lot of success in heavyweight boxing. Vitali Klitschko. Dillian Whyte. Big Baby Miller. Alexander Povetkin. This isn’t a wrestler boxing Usyk. It’s a man who has knockout power and stands up when fighting

All the boxers named had tons of actual boxing experience before challenging the best in the division, they didn't just fight Usyk.

I'm not defending the match but he was in the Fury camp over ten years ago sparring Tyson, Hughie Dave Allen, Eddie Chambers... he isn't brand new to it. People always say stuff to make it sound more extreme. It's like Allen beating Fisher was just beating up a student rugby player, as if he'd just come out of a lecture. Why don't we just say the allies made hard work of beating an Austrian painter in World War two?

The difference for me is Fisher fought his way up, he had 12 fights (against limited opposition) and four years of training as a boxer.

You're Hitler comment made me chuckle.

[MightyWarrior]

Indeed, kickboxers have had a lot of success in heavyweight boxing. Vitali Klitschko. Dillian Whyte. Big Baby Miller. Alexander Povetkin. This isn’t a wrestler boxing Usyk. It’s a man who has knockout power and stands up when fighting

The news that Usyk is fighting this bozo sees Ring “journalist”‘ Mike coppinger tweet it’s a fun fight, he then gets told off by his boss who replies this isn’t a fun fight “it’s dangerous!” - Mike immediately follows up with this “clarification”
Who says the age of great journalism is dead?

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Cent0089]

I am not very much into kickboxing, so i have a question: During the fight, is there something, that is allowed in boxing, but is not allowed in kickboxing?

[gilgamesh]

I am not very much into kickboxing, so i have a question: During the fight, is there something, that is allowed in boxing, but is not allowed in kickboxing?

Holding is a lot more tolerated in a Boxing match than in a Kickboxing match generally, but otherwise than that no.

I know a Spinning Back Fist is a technique they would allow in Kickboxing, but a Backhanded blow is not allowed in Boxing. That's the only kinda fist strike that would be outlawed in Boxing as far as I know.

The other stuff. Low blows, Rabbit punches, Elbows...that's a foul in either sport.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The WBC belt is no longer on the line.

[gilgamesh]

The WBC belt is no longer on the line.

10 rounder or 12 rounder? Regardless of what it is the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship is at stake.

Usyk is the Man. To beat him means you've beaten the man. Doesn't matter what belt is at stake.

[keithmoonhangover]

It looks like this is going to be on DAZN PPV, so it ain't going to be a Zuffa show. Eddie?