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

Who wins?

Poll ended at 23 May 2026, 15:32

Usyk - Decision
12
20%
Usyk - T/KO
37
63%
DRAW
1
2%
Verhoeven - T/KO
8
14%
Verhoeven - Decision
1
2%
 
Total votes: 59

Steveh583
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Steveh583 »

hes a great kickboxer but this is utterly pointless
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:11 It looks like this is going to be on DAZN PPV, so it ain't going to be a Zuffa show. Eddie?
It’s a Ring Mag show. They already said that.
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by keithmoonhangover »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:42
keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:11 It looks like this is going to be on DAZN PPV, so it ain't going to be a Zuffa show. Eddie?
It’s a Ring Mag show. They already said that.
I just wonder who's going to be promoting it?
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:44
Ruthless-RKO wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:42
keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:11 It looks like this is going to be on DAZN PPV, so it ain't going to be a Zuffa show. Eddie?
It’s a Ring Mag show. They already said that.
I just wonder who's going to be promoting it?
A Ring Magazine show is Turki
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

gilgamesh wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:48
keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:44
Ruthless-RKO wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:42

It’s a Ring Mag show. They already said that.
I just wonder who's going to be promoting it?
A Ring Magazine show is Turki
But he usually has a known promoter(s)..
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by keithmoonhangover »

gilgamesh wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:48
keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:44
Ruthless-RKO wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:42

It’s a Ring Mag show. They already said that.
I just wonder who's going to be promoting it?
A Ring Magazine show is Turki
He's not a promoter.
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

Who promotes Glory Kickboxing? Maybe they could have a hand in it?

That'd be awesome actually if they made it a whole Kickboxing vs Boxing themed card, and had several of those fighters fight Boxers just on a lesser scale.
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

That one guy Krnjyk (I may be spelling the name wrong) just went to the Finals of the WBC Grand Prix, and he fought in Glory Kickboxing last year. So he's certainly a guy you could throw on this card that dabbles in both sports.

I think there's another Kickboxer that had turned to Boxing too I think it was Donegi Abena right? He could be on this card too. He was a high level Kickboxer as well.

I'll bet you if they made this a Kickboxer vs Boxer themed card. By the end of the night you'll all be hoping they do one of these every year. :box: :OhYes:
keithmoonhangover
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by keithmoonhangover »

gilgamesh wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 19:00 Who promotes Glory Kickboxing? Maybe they could have a hand in it?

That'd be awesome actually if they made it a whole Kickboxing vs Boxing themed card, and had several of those fighters fight Boxers just on a lesser scale.
Turki will be using someone who can handle a massive event IMO.
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 19:07
gilgamesh wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 19:00 Who promotes Glory Kickboxing? Maybe they could have a hand in it?

That'd be awesome actually if they made it a whole Kickboxing vs Boxing themed card, and had several of those fighters fight Boxers just on a lesser scale.
Turki will be using someone who can handle a massive event IMO.
It's not uncommon for Championship Boxing matches to have more than one promoter involved. I don't think Rico is connected to Glory Kickboxing anymore though, but I could be wrong. They pack in crowds of 12,000 pretty regularly. A fight at the Pyramids of Giza surely wouldn't have more people than that.
THEBUTCH
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by THEBUTCH »

So when does Kabayel get his chance....2027 ? :maybe:
Last edited by THEBUTCH on 28 Feb 2026, 19:39, edited 1 time in total.
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

THEBUTCH wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 19:32 So when does Kabayel get het his chance....2027 ? :maybe:
Maybe later this year. This is happening in May so it still leaves the whole back half of this year for another fight.
MasterG
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by MasterG »

Steveh583 wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:29 hes a great kickboxer but this is utterly pointless
How do you work out, he's a great kick boxer. It doesn't look like he's fought for any kick boxing title and never progressed from 5 rounder fights. Maybe 5 rounds is the maximum in kick boxing?
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by joshj909 »

MasterG wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 04:33
Steveh583 wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:29 hes a great kickboxer but this is utterly pointless
How do you work out, he's a great kick boxer. It doesn't look like he's fought for any kick boxing title and never progressed from 5 rounder fights. Maybe 5 rounds is the maximum in kick boxing?
joshj909 wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 10:14
MasterG wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 09:38
keithmoonhangover wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 09:31
Exactly. :TU:
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.
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Evander »

Usyk is in the position to call the shots.
But he's in a division where quality is thin.
mickey1975
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by mickey1975 »

Evander wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 06:38 Usyk is in the position to call the shots.
But he's in a division where quality is thin.
It's not that thin. He has done exactly the same as anybody else would, taken the big money for the easiest option. It's like his incredible wins on the road, absolutely no doubt it's a hell of a run but there's no chance he wouldn’t have fought in Ukraine if it was possible.
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Evander »

mickey1975 wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 07:08
Evander wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 06:38 Usyk is in the position to call the shots.
But he's in a division where quality is thin.
It's not that thin. He has done exactly the same as anybody else would, taken the big money for the easiest option. It's like his incredible wins on the road, absolutely no doubt it's a hell of a run but there's no chance he wouldn’t have fought in Ukraine if it was possible.
Who is Rico Verhoeven ?
TBA
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by TBA »

Nicky Holkzen made a pretty good account of himself at short notice against Callum Smith.

This should be a fun fight while it lasts if Rico can rough him up in the clinches and move well. I expect he will duelly get splatted between 4-6 ish.
MasterG
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by MasterG »

joshj909 wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 04:51
MasterG wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 04:33
Steveh583 wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 18:29 hes a great kickboxer but this is utterly pointless
How do you work out, he's a great kick boxer. It doesn't look like he's fought for any kick boxing title and never progressed from 5 rounder fights. Maybe 5 rounds is the maximum in kick boxing?
joshj909 wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 10:14
MasterG wrote: 28 Feb 2026, 09:38

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.
:TU:
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

Evander wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 07:17
mickey1975 wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 07:08
Evander wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 06:38 Usyk is in the position to call the shots.
But he's in a division where quality is thin.
It's not that thin. He has done exactly the same as anybody else would, taken the big money for the easiest option. It's like his incredible wins on the road, absolutely no doubt it's a hell of a run but there's no chance he wouldn’t have fought in Ukraine if it was possible.
Who is Rico Verhoeven ?
One of the all time greatest Heavyweight Kickboxers. He's been Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion for a little over the past decade.
gilgamesh
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by gilgamesh »

TBA wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 07:36 Nicky Holkzen made a pretty good account of himself at short notice against Callum Smith.

This should be a fun fight while it lasts if Rico can rough him up in the clinches and move well. I expect he will duelly get splatted between 4-6 ish.
I remember it was a surprise to people when Holzken went the distance with Smith as well.
keithmoonhangover
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by keithmoonhangover »

gilgamesh wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 10:42
TBA wrote: 01 Mar 2026, 07:36 Nicky Holkzen made a pretty good account of himself at short notice against Callum Smith.

This should be a fun fight while it lasts if Rico can rough him up in the clinches and move well. I expect he will duelly get splatted between 4-6 ish.
I remember it was a surprise to people when Holzken went the distance with Smith as well.
Yeah, but he'd had 13 fights and been training as a boxer for five years, That's a huge difference to Verhoeven.
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »



Peter Fury, uncle and former trainer of Tyson Fury, will be training Rico Verhoeven for his fight against Oleksandr Usyk on May 23rd at the Pyramids of Giza 🤯
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Get ready. Gonna be shades of Ali come May 23rd :box:
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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - 23 May 2026

Post by forcefraser »

Rico looking at a schooling here.

No doubt he'd smash Usyk in a kickboxing contest, but this isnt kickboxing
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