BoxRec

Do not take this thread too seriously.

After Benavidez battered Zurdo I said I'd like to see him fight Usyk for the craic.

It would be a fantastic bout & I would have Usyk a big favourite but you know that David would have a right go. He's one of the biggest warriors in the sport right now.

But after Usyks performance last weekend do you give Benavidez a better chance?

Was Rico just the wrong style for Usyk? Or is Usyk just showing the signs of age?

Benavidez has fast feet & really fast hands, Usyk has the best footwork of anyone over 180 since Ali. But has that advantage gone?

So, without getting your knickers in a twist, who wins in this fun matchup?

For the record even if I hadn't seen Rico vs Usyk, I'd pick Benavidez to beat Usyk.

He's young. He's prime. He's fast. He's fresh. He's everything Usyk doesn't want to be fighting right now.

Usyk would pick him off easily

golden_labrador wrote: ↑27 May 2026, 04:37 Usyk would pick him off easily

He might. It could be too much for Benavidez right now as he only just arrived at Cruiserweight, but I feel if it was each one of them's next fight now would actually be the optimal time to see it as far as when it would be most competitive, and difficult to pick.

In a few more years the advantage probably swings to Benavidez in a much more obvious way.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 May 2026, 04:15 For the record even if I hadn't seen Rico vs Usyk, I'd pick Benavidez to beat Usyk.

He's young. He's prime. He's fast. He's fresh. He's everything Usyk doesn't want to be fighting right now.

And juiced to the gills

I expect a Usyk by KO, the weight and size difference is just too big and the skill difference not that much.
At most when you ask Usyk to lose 20kg now and then let them fight, then David might have a chance.

It surprises me people still don't seem to realise what kind of an athlete Rico Verhoeven is. Rico's stamina is from a different planet for someone that size. Also it's a pity Rico wasn't allowed to show it, but Rico is one of the rare guys who can get down, and just stand up and continue to fight like nothing happened. He has done it piles of times at high level in kickboxing,
Rico is the kind of guy who can go down 3 or 4 times and still win by KO.

Ultimately, Verhoeven's stamina failed. He was exhausted when Usyk was applying the finishing touches. Oleksander clearly had more to give.

If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

joshj909 wrote: ↑28 May 2026, 04:28 If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

Davey B ain't no heavyweight. Usyk would murder him

forcefraser wrote: ↑28 May 2026, 05:06

joshj909 wrote: ↑28 May 2026, 04:28 If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

Davey B ain't no heavyweight. Usyk would murder him

Exactly. Benavidez knows it too, otherwise he'd be at heavyweight.

it would have to be a case of Evan Fields with lats up to his ear lobes to have a prayer

If the fight were signed today and they were going to fight in the fall or thereabouts? I'd pick Benavidez on points, but it's not easy, some kind of SD type thing. But a year or more back? I'd pick Usyk on points UD.
I think Benvidez and Usyk are both ATG fighters, but I think two more things: Usyk is on this side of being completely done. And also, at some point size does matter.

Usyk a year ago by stoppage.

Usyk right now coin toss for all 4 results… (Usyk stoppage, Usyk points, benividez stoppage, benevidez points).

Usyk in a year I’d have benevidez a slight favorite. (Might change my tune on this if I see Usyk at 220lb again with some movement and activity)

gregregegg wrote: ↑30 May 2026, 01:15 Usyk a year ago by stoppage.

Usyk right now coin toss for all 4 results… (Usyk stoppage, Usyk points, benividez stoppage, benevidez points).

Usyk in a year I’d have benevidez a slight favorite. (Might change my tune on this if I see Usyk at 220lb again with some movement and activity)

X2

Big fan here of both . But Usyk too big ,