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

[DrDuke]

Probaly would've won on the judges scorecards or even in the 12th anyway, but if that's not s sign to retire..

Yeah, the knockdown helped him and he was likely to win the 12th round after hurting Rico, but still the stoppage didn't look fair.

[tigermoth87]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

[DrDuke]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

Was there any basic grappler, not a kickboxer or a striker, who had anything like that?

[gilgamesh]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

What it is proof of is that a World Class Professional Fighter is capable of holding their own in a Professional Fight.

It's also proof that most Boxing fans are pessimists who can't see what's happening even when they're looking right at it.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Probaly would've won on the judges scorecards or even in the 12th anyway, but if that's not s sign to retire..

I remember Lewis being interviewed some time after he retired, and he said that he still enjoyed being a fighter, but he found it harder and harder to put in the grind in the gym, and he knew that meant it was time to get out of the sport.

Usyk looks like he has always trained like a demon, and maybe the motivatiion isnt there.

If hes going to fight again, fight kabayel or itauma, otherwise piss off and release the belts, let a new generation through.

[Sendo Takeshi]

Probaly would've won on the judges scorecards or even in the 12th anyway, but if that's not s sign to retire..

I remember Lewis being interviewed some time after he retired, and he said that he still enjoyed being a fighter, but he found it harder and harder to put in the grind in the gym, and he knew that meant it was time to get out of the sport.

Usyk looks like he has always trained like a demon, and maybe the motivatiion isnt there.

If hes going to fight again, fight kabayel or itauma, otherwise piss off and release the belts, let a new generation through.

I agree. This is what I wrote yesterday:

To be honest, I always have a bad feeling, when a fighter talks about retirement. When they talk about retirement, they are retired..

[tigermoth87]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

What it is proof of is that a World Class Professional Fighter is capable of holding their own in a Professional Fight.

It's also proof that most Boxing fans are pessimists who can't see what's happening even when they're looking right at it.

Which wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put a boxer in a kickboxing match and they'd get smoked.

Or a top Futsal player in the Premier League.

Boxing is the easiest sport to compete in. There's a reason YouTubers do boxing rather than tennis or golf

[joshj909]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

What it is proof of is that a World Class Professional Fighter is capable of holding their own in a Professional Fight.

It's also proof that most Boxing fans are pessimists who can't see what's happening even when they're looking right at it.

Which wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put a boxer in a kickboxing match and they'd get smoked.

Or a top Futsal player in the Premier League.

Boxing is the easiest sport to compete in. There's a reason YouTubers do boxing rather than tennis or golf

I think it's more because it's pretty much the only sport where you can pick your opponents entirely. Picking bums and other YouTubers as your only opponents is special for professional boxing.

[conan_the_cribber]

That stoppage was pure BS. Rico was in no imminent danger. His head wasn't snapped back, he wasn't stumbling around, he wasn't groggy. Sure he was worn out, and taking damage, but he had enough to go to the bell. It's the god damn heavyweight championship of the world, the biggest prize in boxing and the ref took him out like a schoolgirl with a blister in a pogo-stick championship. The ref is an absolute f*cking ass$hole. Probably had money on the fight.

And this is one of the reasons I've sweitched to watching mma. The refs there do an extraordinary good job. Always intervene at the right moment. Rarely make a mistake and when it happens there always seems to be an explanation for it. Boxing referees seem in comparison just seem like drunkards in a bar with no overview and no perception of a fight. An absolute putrid decision.

[gilgamesh]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

What it is proof of is that a World Class Professional Fighter is capable of holding their own in a Professional Fight.

It's also proof that most Boxing fans are pessimists who can't see what's happening even when they're looking right at it.

Which wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put a boxer in a kickboxing match and they'd get smoked.

Or a top Futsal player in the Premier League.

Boxing is the easiest sport to compete in. There's a reason YouTubers do boxing rather than tennis or golf

I've seen Boxers do well in Kickboxing before. Frans Botha tried his hand in Kickboxing when he was getting older, only had a 4-14 record, but he beat names like Jerome Le Banner and Peter Aerts which were 2 of the biggest names in the sport at the time.

[Contendeh]

I don’t know if usyk got old or if it’s more that he doesn’t want to fight anymore.

He seems to be doing it for Ukraine and the people who rely on him for a living.

This fight reminded me a whole lot of Ali Spinks I, in fact, you can make your own Sphinx Jinx jokes here given the location.

A relative novice, determined and awkward, with an aggressive approach putting the pressure on an aged, out of shape champ who really doesn’t want it anymore but cannot let go.

Usyk, did find his spot in the 11th and I think for BOTH of they’re sakes the fight should have gone to the 12th - championship fights that competitive should not get called off that close to the bell.

Personally, I think Rico was completely gassed and the spitting out (which could have been a point deduction) of the mouthguard and all that recovery time he had and not do much against Usyk’s flurry tells me that.

Let’s see how Rico does against a true power hitter.
let’s do Rico vs Moses and Agit vs Usyk.

Usyk is going to need to turn back the clock and really want it against either Moses or Agit.

[Ruthless-RKO]

VERHOEVEN FILES PROTEST AFTER CONTROVERSIAL STOPPAGE LOSS TO USYK

Rico Verhoeven isn’t going down without a fight inside or outside of the ring.

Verhoeven posted on his Instagram story that he’s protesting his 11th-round stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their Ring and WBC heavyweight title bout to headline “Glory in Giza” in Egypt on Saturday.

“Official protest has been filed on our way to the airport,” Verhoeven wrote. “Rules only matter if they are applied when it matters most.”

Should the protest be successful, Verhoeven (2-1, 1 KO) would be in line for a rematch against Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs). That result would complicate Usyk’s future with multiple mandatory challengers on the horizon.

Chief among them is Agit Kabayel, who was in the ring after the fight concluded. Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 2 heavyweight and the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBC title.

Queensberry Promotions’ allegedly, who represents Kabayel, said he’d be opposed to his fighter being sidelined for a rematch between Usyk and Verhoeven.

"They're talking about maybe doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico. We're not going to stand for that,” Warren told Sky Sports.

"Usyk's been there long enough, and he wants his moment, and that's what we'll be pushing for with WBC, and hopefully get it over the line and do that same time in the autumn.”

Verhoeven, who was 66-10 with 21 KOs as a kickboxer and reigned as the Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion from 2013-25, fought valiantly and was on the doorstep of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in sports history. With just more than 20 seconds left in the 11th round, Usyk connected with a right uppercut that sent him to the canvas. Verhoeven rose on unsteady legs and wobbled to his corner to have his mouthpiece put back in after spitting it out.

Sensing the end was near, Usyk swarmed Verhoeven with a flurry of punches while he was in the corner, though, the Dutchman tried to fight back rather than trying to hold on to survive. As the bell began to ring, referee Mark Lyson stopped the fight.

Two of the judges, Manuel Oliver Palomo and Fabian Guggenheim, had the bout 95-95, while Pasquale Procopio had Verhoeven ahead 96-94. Verhoeven would have needed a knockdown in the 12th round to score a draw.

[Ruthless-RKO]

TRAINER PETER FURY: VERHOEVEN DESERVES ANOTHER SHOT AT USYK

In 2015, Peter Fury was the mastermind in the corner as his nephew Tyson traveled to Germany.

He proved a wide winner past Wladimir Klitschko with a savvy 12-round points nod, heralding in a new era for the heavyweight division. At the time, Tyson’s victory over the dominant Klitschko was regarded as a massive upset, but on Saturday night, Fury and his new charge Rico Verhoeven came close to eclipsing that achievement.

A kickboxing legend but boxing novice, Verhoeven (1-1, 1 KO) pushed The Ring and unified champion Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) to the very limit before being stopped in the 11th round in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

The boxing world expected Usyk to produce an exhibition befitting of the spectacular surroundings and dominate the Dutchman during their crossover clash.

Ignoring the outside noise, Fury quietly got on with the task of preparing his man to shock the world. The plan almost worked.

Verhoeven's feints, forward momentum and work rate bamboozled Usyk, and as the rounds passed the kickboxing legend seemed to be on course for a stunning victory.

Eventually in the 11th round, Usyk found the answer. He dropped Verhoeven with an uppercut and his follow up attack forced referee Mark Lyson to step in and controversially stop the fight as the bell sounded.

After the fight, Fury told DAZN that he understood those who wrote off Verhoeven beforehand.

"I'm not slating anybody and saying, 'Oh, he's got it wrong' because if I was an analyst and didn't know the work that we were doing, I'd say the same," Fury said.

"I'd say he's a kickboxer, he's going nowhere and you'd expect for him to go one, two or three rounds, but Oleksandr said to me, 'We knew when you was at the back of this [in his corner], there was going to be a problem somewhere.'

"Look, we worked on him and done the best we could but the only thing that let Rico down tonight was experience."

Over the course of his storied career, Usyk has always been able to call on almost superhuman levels of stamina and needed another of his trademark late surges to bring an end to Verhoeven's brave effort.

Lyson's decision to step in and halt the action as the bell sounded to end the 11th has caused inevitable contention. The scorecards were close at the time of the stoppage and debate continues to rage about exactly what would have happened had the 37-year-old been allowed to answer the bell for the 12th and final round.

Rather than getting drawn into a row, Fury bit his tongue. He believes Verhoeven did more than enough to warrant a second crack at the unified champion.

"I'm about respect. Blessed Lord, respect. Respect your opponent and at the end of it, Usyk's got the win," he said.

"Full congratulations to him but I think they should — I think Oleksandr will — run it back. Let's run it back because the guy deserves another shot. Look what's happened here. A little bit of more experience. This is the first time he's ever, ever gone past five rounds. It's amazing."

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

USYK UNBOTHERED BY DISPUTED VERHOEVEN STOPPAGE: ‘IT'S NOT MY JOB’

Oleksandr Usyk fell to his knees and stared at the heavens in relief Saturday immediately after stopping Rico Verhoeven.

The heavyweight king thanked God and kissed the cross hanging from his neck steps away from the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Usyk evidently understood that he dodged a bullet by scoring a come-from-behind win in the 11th round, saving himself from a monumental upset against a kickboxer who was boxing for the second time.

Usyk looked average for long stretches of the fight and shockingly allowed the novice boxer to bank many rounds before referee Mark Lyson ensured the judges wouldn’t be needed when he controversially stepped in to wave off the action at the 2:59 mark of the round.

“It was a hard fight,” Usyk told Boxing King Media. “Rico was a good fighter and well prepared. Everything is OK. We got the win, and will continue working and training.”

At the time of the stoppage, Usyk was down 96-94 on one card, while the other two judges had it 95-95. The punch stats – 113 landed for Verhoeven, 112 for Usyk – further reflected the close nature of the contest.

Before the fight was ruled over, Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a vicious right uppercut that forced Verhoeven to fall face-first into the bottom ropes with 22 seconds remaining.

Verhoeven valiantly picked himself up only to see Usyk dial up the pressure with a flurry of punches, prompting Lyson to move in and end matters immediately after the bell had already sounded while the Dutchman protected himself on his feet.

“I do not think about this. A lot of people said the stoppage was early. Listen, it's not my job. My job is boxing,” said Usyk.

We’ll never know what could have been in the 12th, but, because of what presumably would've been a two-point round in the 11th, Verhoeven would have needed a knockdown of his own not to lose the fight on the cards.

Verhoeven revealed that he has filed a protest and intends to continue the next chapter of his fighting career as a boxer.

The conversation about Usyk (26-0, 15 KOs), meanwhile, immediately shifted toward a fight against Agit Kabayel in Germany.

Usyk, The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight champion, said he's not thinking about what's next, but he’ll be ready for whatever comes.

“I'm going to rest," he said, "and do homework.”

[UpneyUppercut]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

[Thomastearns]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

Finally, someone who feels the same way.

Thanks!

Of the 3 reasons given for Usyk's uncharacteristic performance last night - his legs have gone, or he didn't take Rico seriously enough or he was never that good anyway - none seem as plausible as the fact he was paid to carry Rico late as possible.

Something odd was definitely going on.

In any case, Usyk's acting was at least as good as Fury's performance was against Ngannou, and miles better than AJs pantomime against Jake Paul.

[2002421]

Oh man the cope on this sub is hilarious.
You boxing folks got embarrassed, your P4P, best generational HW boxer just got outboxed by a kickboxer.
There is no coming back from this, I feel for you.

[Sendo Takeshi]

Oh man the cope on this sub is hilarious.
You boxing folks got embarrassed, your P4P, best generational HW boxer just got outboxed by a kickboxer.
There is no coming back from this, I feel for you.

Good thing you are just as childish and disrespectful as them.. Matches their cope perfectly.

Doesn't matter what sport it is, the fans are equally braindead everywhere..

[gp.]

Proof that boxing is the easiest sport to do.

Twice now, non boxers have gone up against world champions and almost won.

Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Put an American Footballer in a rugby team and he'd be shit.

Or a badminton world champion against Novak

I remember reading somewhere that Wilt Chamberlain, with six months training, would have beaten Muhammad Ali.

[UpneyUppercut]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

Finally, someone who feels the same way.

Thanks!

Of the 3 reasons given for Usyk's uncharacteristic performance last night - his legs have gone, or he didn't take Rico seriously enough or he was never that good anyway - none seem as plausible as the fact he was paid to carry Rico late as possible.

Something odd was definitely going on.

In any case, Usyk's acting was at least as good as Fury's performance was against Ngannou, and miles better than AJs pantomime against Jake Paul.

Yeh exactly, I believe Rico was going all out and showed great conditioning though his style is crude and if taking is seriously Usyk would have gone straight through him, he was toying,throwing soft punches and almost letting Rico hit him,the commentary were obviously in on it as well or deluded by saying Usyk better not mix it with Rico, the same man who mixed it with Dubois, AJ and Fury!
Maybe if these freak shows keep ending early they won't be able to sell them any more

[tigermoth87]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

You may be right. I have long being suspicious of these Mickey Mouse fights that the opponent is being carried. Some, like Jake Paul vs Ali much more blatantly than others.

Joshua clearly could have finished Jake Paul any time he liked.

I wouldn't be surprised if this, and Fury vs Ngannou, the agreement was just to carry the fight... like Mayweather vs Conor McGregor.

Either way, they are making boxing look a laughing stock.

Either it's that shit a sport where someone can come in straight away and be competitive with the World Champion and almost win, or it's faker than WWE.

[Thomastearns]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

Finally, someone who feels the same way.

Thanks!

Of the 3 reasons given for Usyk's uncharacteristic performance last night - his legs have gone, or he didn't take Rico seriously enough or he was never that good anyway - none seem as plausible as the fact he was paid to carry Rico late as possible.

Something odd was definitely going on.

In any case, Usyk's acting was at least as good as Fury's performance was against Ngannou, and miles better than AJs pantomime against Jake Paul.

Yeh exactly, I believe Rico was going all out and showed great conditioning though his style is crude and if taking is seriously Usyk would have gone straight through him, he was toying,throwing soft punches and almost letting Rico hit him,the commentary were obviously in on it as well or deluded by saying Usyk better not mix it with Rico, the same man who mixed it with Dubois, AJ and Fury!
Maybe if these freak shows keep ending early they won't be able to sell them any more

Exactly, and it wouldn't be good for business.

In the real world, here's the kind of thing that happens when a top HW fights one several leagues below.

----

Muhammad Ali absolutely loved Reg, more than any other media person, and even gave him an interview DURING his own fight in ITV's live coverage.

It was against Rudie Lubbers in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ali was to win a unanimous point decision on October 20, 1973.

The fight was live on World Of Sport (UK TV) because of the time difference.

Ali won at a canter but was bored and in between rounds, spotted Reg commentating at ringside.

He yelled: "Reg, want an interview now!?"

Gutteridge asked the studio director only to be told: "We need to take a betting show from Catterick (horse racing) so ask him if he will do it after the next round."

Only in TV!

Both Ali and Reg looked puzzled but Ali nodded and Reg got his interview after the following round!

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Witty+Re ... 0767200584

---

Afterwards, Usyk dropped the act for a moment and said he could fight Rico and Kabayel on the same night.

I don't think he was joking.

For some reason Usyk continues to be underestimated, time and time again.

Mind you, something similar happened to Ali himself. People tend to forget he was generally hated until after the first Frazier fight and the resolution of the Clay v United States case at the Supreme Court in 1971.

The modern day legend of 'the greatest' only really took off after the miracle of the Foreman fight...

[Ruthless-RKO]

[gilgamesh]

Usyk was so bad for most of this fight that it's almost as if he was paid to look bad.
I don't remember him landing any solid jabs, and let's face it, if there's one boxer in the world capable of landing a solid jab it's Usyk, especially on Rico!
Something very odd is going on.

You may be right. I have long being suspicious of these Mickey Mouse fights that the opponent is being carried. Some, like Jake Paul vs Ali much more blatantly than others.

Joshua clearly could have finished Jake Paul any time he liked.

I wouldn't be surprised if this, and Fury vs Ngannou, the agreement was just to carry the fight... like Mayweather vs Conor McGregor.

Either way, they are making boxing look a laughing stock.

Either it's that shit a sport where someone can come in straight away and be competitive with the World Champion and almost win, or it's faker than WWE.

Not just anyone. Rico Verhoeven is a Dominant Professional Fighter. Has been dominant for 10+ years in his sport, and has had 70+ fights of Professional Experience.

He punches and kicks, and he made the transition to a sport where he only Punches well. It's really not that inconceivable.

It doesn't mean any and all Kickboxers could have success in Boxing, but it honestly shouldn't shock anyone that the absolute best that Kickboxing has to offer is capable of exceptional things.

Big Punching Heavyweight Boxers could fare well in Kickboxing too, they don't bother though (at least in the Western Hemisphere) because there's a sh*t load more money in Boxing than there is in Kickboxing.