Round-by-Round: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven - 23 May 2026

[joshj909]

Even after being ahead after 10 rounds. It's still Usyk bad, not Rico good.

Rico can't possibly actually be a good fighter. That can't be the answer.

He was a game fighter and boxed well, strange style that you usually only get from guys that have trained in another discipline. I think he'd probably lose against most HWs in the top 20 though.

Probably, but not definitely.

Usyk would beat Dave Allen. Probably, but not definitely.

[Heldenjaeger]

Does Rico actually want to continue in boxing? And isn’t Fury supposedly looking for a summer fight? Honestly, Fury is so far over the hill at this point that Rico might genuinely open as the betting favourite, especially with Peter in his corner. Of course it’s never going to happen. Too risky for Fury.

[Boxerbeetle]

Rico wasn't in a position to defend him as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

True in theory, but how often do those rules get followed when it’s the home fighter in trouble? Basically never.

[gilgamesh]

He was a game fighter and boxed well, strange style that you usually only get from guys that have trained in another discipline. I think he'd probably lose against most HWs in the top 20 though.

Probably, but not definitely.

Usyk would beat Dave Allen. Probably, but not definitely.

Easier than he'd beat Rico in a rematch.

[Steveh583]

I think it shows that non boxers can cause more problems than regular boxers because they are more unorthodox. Guess we saw this with Ngannou and Fury,

Boxers need to wake up to the fact they still have to train for these crossovers

[joshj909]

Does Rico actually want to continue in boxing? And isn’t Fury supposedly looking for a summer fight? Honestly, Fury is so far over the hill at this point that Rico might genuinely open as the betting favourite, especially with Peter in his corner. Of course it’s never going to happen. Too risky for Fury.

I don't think Tyson would want to have to go against Peter. There would be too many questions. John would cause chaos. I think Tyson and Peter both know how problematic it would be with their family affairs being drawn out in press conferences like that.

[Heldenjaeger]

Rico wasn't in a position to defend himself as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

Acting like this was some textbook emergency stoppage is nonsense. Rico was still on his feet, still throwing back, and the bell was literally sounding with one second left. In most world title fights a referee gives the fighter that final second even if he’s completely helpless, which Rico clearly wasn’t.

[gilgamesh]

I feel like Rico vs Ngannou is an interesting match. You can market it as the MMA Champion vs the Kickboxing Champion, and both have a similar background going into it.

Whatever the case I hope we see Rico back in a Boxing ring.

[Steveh583]

Does Rico actually want to continue in boxing? And isn’t Fury supposedly looking for a summer fight? Honestly, Fury is so far over the hill at this point that Rico might genuinely open as the betting favourite, especially with Peter in his corner. Of course it’s never going to happen. Too risky for Fury.

Tysons done loads of rounds with Rico, I think he’d tuck him up

[maninthemiddle]

The biggest mistake I take from tonight is Rico not having a couple of 10 rounders against Top 20 heavyweight’s before stepping up for the big one. You can’t go from 5x3 to 12x3 just iby training alone, you need to step up gradually in “competitive live action”
You can’t gatecrash top level sport….

[keithmoonhangover]

Rico wasn't in a position to defend himself as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

Acting like this was some textbook emergency stoppage is nonsense. Rico was still on his feet, still throwing back, and the bell was literally sounding with one second left. In most world title fights a referee gives the fighter that final second even if he’s completely helpless, which Rico clearly wasn’t.

Bollocks. Numerous unanswered punches and as I already mentioned, he wasn't in a position to defend himself.

[gilgamesh]

I think it shows that non boxers can cause more problems than regular boxers because they are more unorthodox. Guess we saw this with Ngannou and Fury,

Boxers need to wake up to the fact they still have to train for these crossovers

And fans need to wake up to the fact that Usyk DID train. Usyk WAS ready. Rico Verhoeven was better than people thought. Rico Verhoeven is a legit good fighter.

Usyk was ready or he couldn't have pulled the fight out of the fire when he needed to in the 11th.

[golden_labrador]

Rico wasn't in a position to defend himself as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

i just watched the ending again and Rico was just being pummeled. throw a punch else the ref just might end it.

he wobbled over to his corner to get a new mouth guard after the knockdown looking blank. then his team had to point for him to know where to go next. he might recover in kickboxing but not after 11 rounds against Usyk. he did well but it was over

[Heldenjaeger]

Does Rico actually want to continue in boxing? And isn’t Fury supposedly looking for a summer fight? Honestly, Fury is so far over the hill at this point that Rico might genuinely open as the betting favourite, especially with Peter in his corner. Of course it’s never going to happen. Too risky for Fury.

Tysons done loads of rounds with Rico, I think he’d tuck him up

The last time Fury actually looked good for an entire fight was probably Chisora 3 in 2022. He’s nowhere near the level he was at under Peter.

[golden_labrador]

I think it shows that non boxers can cause more problems than regular boxers because they are more unorthodox. Guess we saw this with Ngannou and Fury,

Boxers need to wake up to the fact they still have to train for these crossovers

And fans need to wake up to the fact that Usyk DID train. Usyk WAS ready. Rico Verhoeven was better than people thought. Rico Verhoeven is a legit good fighter.

Usyk was ready or he couldn't have pulled the fight out of the fire when he needed to in the 11th.

nobody here expected Rico to be a legit opponent. he did well

[keithmoonhangover]

Rico wasn't in a position to defend himself as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

i just watched the ending again and Rico was just being pummeled. throw a punch else the ref just might end it.

he wobbled over to his corner to get a new mouth guard after the knockdown looking blank. then his team had to point for him to know where to go next. he might recover in kickboxing but not after 11 rounds against Usyk. he did well but it was over

I just watched the ending again in slow mo and it was brutal. I'm sure some people on here want to see someone get badly damaged.

[gilgamesh]

Boxers need to wake up to the fact they still have to train for these crossovers

And fans need to wake up to the fact that Usyk DID train. Usyk WAS ready. Rico Verhoeven was better than people thought. Rico Verhoeven is a legit good fighter.

Usyk was ready or he couldn't have pulled the fight out of the fire when he needed to in the 11th.

nobody here expected Rico to be a legit opponent. he did well

I expected Rico to be a legit opponent. Look at Page 1 and 2 of the threads when this fight first got announced.

[qatarm]

Scorecards had it 95-95 x 2 and 96-94 Rico

[golden_labrador]

And fans need to wake up to the fact that Usyk DID train. Usyk WAS ready. Rico Verhoeven was better than people thought. Rico Verhoeven is a legit good fighter.

Usyk was ready or he couldn't have pulled the fight out of the fire when he needed to in the 11th.

nobody here expected Rico to be a legit opponent. he did well

I expected Rico to be a legit opponent. Look at Page 1 and 2 of the threads when this fight first got announced.

pulling your leg. i think you've mentioned it quite a few times a day since the fight was announced. good call

[keithmoonhangover]

Scorecards had it 95-95 x 2 and 96-94 Rico

I had it even after 10. Coppinger loves to be provocative.

[gregregegg]

Usyk vs Rico at Ajax stadium Netherlands is the play. Be fornicating mental.

Get overeem vs wilder/nganuu on the undercard.

Kabayal can have a tuneup on the undercard too (right next to Germany)…

[Ruthless-RKO]

Scorecards had it 95-95 x 2 and 96-94 Rico

After that that it would have been 105-103 x2 and 104-104 draw

Usyk no doubt would have taken that 12th.

And won a decision

[joshj909]

Scorecards had it 95-95 x 2 and 96-94 Rico

105-103 X2 for Usyk and 104-104 if round 11 gets counted. Usyk would've won on the cards as long as he didn't get knocked down. Even then it would've been a majority draw.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[johnmanchester]

Usyk vs Rico at Ajax stadium Netherlands is the play. Be fornicating mental.

Get overeem vs wilder/nganuu on the undercard.

Kabayal can have a tuneup on the undercard too (right next to Germany)…

He's done 31,000 at Arnhem Gelredome before