BoxRec

gregregegg wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 21:05

gilgamesh wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 20:55

gregregegg wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 20:54 This reminded me a bit of Loma vs teo… I was just watching wondering why Usyk was just waiting way too long.

He wasn't strong enough to stop Rico's pressure. He wasn't waiting. He was doing all he could.

It wasn’t a strength issue it was a speed, reflex and movement issue. And because of that Usyk was too passive.

He was doing all this version of him could do. I’ll pay that. And got it done eventually. But you’re mad if you think that Usyk wasn’t by far the worst version of him we have seen at heavyweight.

Otherwise your position is Rico is a top 5 heavyweight. Which is pretty bold but it’s a doable stance I guess. But just like I didn’t think nganu was a top heavyweight after that fury, I don’t think Rico is a top heavyweight after this Usyk.

I want the rematch cause I didn’t like the ending. But if Rico is what you say he is and he dosent get the rematch, he will start cleaning up the division pretty quick.

deadpan wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:22 Usyk ain't wild about Kabayel is he?

KiwiRider wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 00:55

deadpan wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:22 Usyk ain't wild about Kabayel is he?

Nope, never even mentioned his name.
He would have lost to him tonight, that's for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if Uysk continues to duck him.

881073 wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 20:36

Ricky wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:54

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:34 Rico wasn't in a position to defend himself as the ref stepped in. That's the rules.

Yeah on second viewing the stoppage wasn't that bad, he was obviously badly hurt from the KD, got extra time for the mouthpiece, then still failed to stop an onslaught from Usyk. You can't ask the ref to turn a blind eye to that in the hope the bell comes.

The truth is, they already removed the timestamp for whatever weird reason

Ricky wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 02:39 There was still plenty time left when Rico went down, he spits his gumshield and his corner try to buy a few seconds by dropping it too, robbing Usyk of the time he still had & the opportunity to find a finish, then everyone wants to moan that he should've been saved by the bell? Give me a break.

johnmanchester wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 03:01

Ricky wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 02:39 There was still plenty time left when Rico went down, he spits his gumshield and his corner try to buy a few seconds by dropping it too, robbing Usyk of the time he still had & the opportunity to find a finish, then everyone wants to moan that he should've been saved by the bell? Give me a break.

Usyk balanced all that out by being nowhere near a neutral corner when the fight was restarting. He was stood right on top of the ref when Rico gumshield was being put in

veriton wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 03:51 Bunce BBC podcast catches him referring to Rick Reno as an ar5sehol3 for bringing up Kabayel as Usyks next natural fight, then praises Turki for shutting the question down. Is Bunce hedging his bets in case the BBC cut his pod? Because he wasn't being a journalist there.

MasterG wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 04:07 Don't want a rematch myself. I just don't like it when a boxer 1-0 gets a world title shot, when you've got boxers fighting for years to earn their shot.

This would never have happened back in the day.

Controversial wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 20:04

joshj909 wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:53

Controversial wrote: ↑23 May 2026, 19:50

Yeah Usyk trained hard, I’m not sure that was this issue. I think it’s a combination of a few things, Rico can box, he isn’t a wrestler, jujitsu expert etc he knows how to punch. He’s a huge lump, very fit and very strong. There is very little footage of him boxing so hard to train for. But what often catches fighters out is I think there’s an element of expecting to win and not focusing 100%. When you are the underdog the pressure is off. We see it in all sports, some massive underdog beating the favourite as the underdog raises their game and the favourites sometimes don’t focus or try as hard.

At his heaviest ever weight, I think we can all tell that he either slacked in training or his age is holding him back.

6 pounds heavier than ever, not a massive deal really, it’s not like he was 2 stone heavier. I just think he couldn’t work Rico out, he didn’t look tired.

But I’m absolutely amazed a 37 year old 260lb guy with zero real boxing experience could be that active after 11 rounds, his engine was unreal which some people might think is a bit suspicious.

MasterG wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 04:07 Don't want a rematch myself. I just don't like it when a boxer 1-0 gets a world title shot, when you've got boxers fighting for years to earn their shot.

This would never have happened back in the day.

Bellew said he had earned his right to fight Usyk, how was that the case. If that's correct Lewis Hamilton should be given a title shot next.

It's all garbage now.

handsofstone wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 03:15 What a crock of sh1t, English referee ruining yet another championship fight, I thought he was trying to break them because it was end of the round, didn't even cross my mind he was stopping it, disgraceful, Usyk was terrible, I had Verhoeven up by 2 rounds after 10, Usyk was slow , sluggish, didn't get more active as it wore on like he usually does, the uppercut was the only shot he had any success with, Verhoeven used his size and strength to bully Usyk, chin down, shoulders hunched, walked in and put it on Usyk, landed the right hand time and again and manhandled him, he landed nearly all the notable punches, Copps score was way of but no doubt Verhoeven was winning, Usyk needed something, he had a good 10th then obviously found the right uppercut at end of 11th the dropped Verhoeven and hurt him, he waded in the corner catching him but didn't look like he had enough time but thankfully for him it was a BBBC registered official that gave him a TKO, feel for Verhoeven, id have fancied Usyk in the last but we'll never know, embarrassing tbqh


Also I'm not buying the whole Verhoeven being unpredictable and unorthodox because of his kickboxing style, he was just aggressive and used plenty of feints like all top boxers do, feintings purpose is to be unpredictable, it wasnt as he spoiled to unsettle Usyk and I'm no hearing anything about the shape Usyk was in either, that's on him

gilgamesh wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:35 A Fight is a Fight. A great Boxer could hold his own in Kickboxing as well, they just wouldn't bother because there's nowhere near as much money in Kickboxing.

Football and Baseball are 2 entirely different sporting concepts.

A Kickboxing match or a Boxing match have the same goal. Knock the other man out or land more blows than him.

veriton wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:45

gilgamesh wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:35 A Fight is a Fight. A great Boxer could hold his own in Kickboxing as well, they just wouldn't bother because there's nowhere near as much money in Kickboxing.

Football and Baseball are 2 entirely different sporting concepts.

A Kickboxing match or a Boxing match have the same goal. Knock the other man out or land more blows than him.

Not sure about that, Riddick Bowe was totally embarrassed when he tried it. It's a whole different skill and a lifetime of learning to take a different type of pain.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:50

veriton wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:45

gilgamesh wrote: ↑24 May 2026, 05:35 A Fight is a Fight. A great Boxer could hold his own in Kickboxing as well, they just wouldn't bother because there's nowhere near as much money in Kickboxing.

Football and Baseball are 2 entirely different sporting concepts.

A Kickboxing match or a Boxing match have the same goal. Knock the other man out or land more blows than him.

Not sure about that, Riddick Bowe was totally embarrassed when he tried it. It's a whole different skill and a lifetime of learning to take a different type of pain.

I don't recall Bowe ever having a Kickboxing match.

Shannon Briggs beat Tom Erickson in a Kickboxing match, but Erickson was primarily a Grappler.

There have been many Kickboxers who are best known for their punching. Many competitors in the sport only focus on leg kicks or using their legs for defense.