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May 23 will be a historic day for combat sports. True legends of their disciplines will collide in the ring. Professional boxing will be represented by Oleksandr Usyk, who has become a true dominant force in the heavyweight division. His opponent will be Rico Verhoeven, the “golden” kickboxer.
To be honest, there were many questions about the matchmaking from the very beginning. The main reason was that nobody really believed in Verhoeven. Usyk has already proven everything to everyone in professional boxing.
But there is a feeling that Rico should not be completely written off. He is capable of surprising Oleksandr; he has a few aces up his sleeve.
The age difference could be a significant factor. Yes, it does not seem critical. Usyk is 39, while Verhoeven is 37. However, at that age, even one extra month can feel like a disadvantage. Here, we are talking about two years.
Oleksandr has always been known for his gas tank and speed. But things become more difficult with age — that is undeniable. Rico will undoubtedly try to take advantage of that edge. Twelve-round fights offer plenty of time to land punches. Over time, the weight difference will certainly begin to show, and his opponent may start to fade physically. That is when Verhoeven could have a chance to put the finishing touches on the fight.
At the same time, Rico will still be missing one very important element. In kickboxing, he was a truly powerful kicker and often relied on that part of his arsenal. Now he must retrain himself, first and foremost mentally. When you have been using the same weapon for so many years, it can be extremely difficult to abandon it.
That is why Usyk still needs to be careful. It is unlikely that Verhoeven would automatically throw some wild head kick — that is a joke, of course. Rico is undoubtedly training extremely hard, so he will be fully prepared and focused. But he will not be able to use his legs — that is simply a fact.
Rico himself already seems to know exactly how he plans to win. Verhoeven intends to finish the fight by knockout. And he knows what could help him:
“When I hit him with my best punch, Usyk will definitely go down, because the weight difference between us is around 20 kilograms. He is a strong cruiserweight, while I am a natural heavyweight. So the difference is significant. That will happen if I land my best shot. And if not, we will still win.”
Verhoeven really does have a size advantage — and it is noticeable. Oleksandr is 191 cm tall, while Rico stands at 196 cm. Yes, Usyk has fought much taller opponents before. But there is another factor that needs to be taken into account.
Oleksandr’s reach is 198 cm, while Verhoeven’s is a massive 210 cm. If the Dutchman can keep his opponent at distance, he will be in a very comfortable position. Add to that Rico’s weight, which means he will likely be much heavier when he steps into the ring.
The next key factor is Rico’s fists, Championat writes. They are in perfect shape, and there is no reason to think otherwise. Many people mistakenly forget that Verhoeven can genuinely box. That was obvious even in his “home” discipline. Now he only needs to focus entirely on his hands.
There is a feeling that Rico is ready for exactly that. Yes, his punches are not as devastating as, for example, Francis Ngannou’s. His numbers on the power machine are more modest. But he still produces over 800 kg of force, compared to 1,300+ for Francis. A few shots like that could be enough to floor Usyk.
At the same time, it is difficult to deny that Oleksandr remains the clear favorite. It also seems that, to counter any lack of motivation, belts are on the line.
Still, it is far too early to “bury” Rico. He is capable of surprising people.
