Three weeks after Rico Verhoeven’s spirited effort against Oleksandr Usyk, comments from Tony Bellew have resurfaced, offering a blunt assessment of how the Dutch kickboxing star would fare against some of boxing’s biggest punchers.
Verhoeven surprised many observers when he pushed Usyk deep into their May heavyweight clash. The Dutchman was competitive throughout much of the fight and was ahead on one scorecard after 10 rounds before Usyk forced a stoppage in the 11th.
“I think you’re looking at Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou all over again. And I think, unfortunately for Rico, the footage is out there. [Opponents are] all going to see what he brings to the table. He hasn’t spent long enough in the boxing game to change his style. That is his style,” said Bellew to Fight Your Corner.
“I think he’s in a real dangerous position, and I think he just needs to hunt for Oleksandr Usyk and stay away from the others. If he was to be let go against a Daniel Dubois, or an Anthony Joshua, [it’s] a completely different matchup. You’re meeting thunderous punches.”
Bellew’s view is that Verhoeven benefited from facing a highly technical boxer in Usyk rather than a heavyweight known primarily for power. In his opinion, fights against Daniel Dubois or Anthony Joshua would present a different set of problems because of their ability to end fights with a single punch.
Verhoeven has repeatedly called for a rematch with Usyk since their first meeting. However, Usyk’s immediate future appears tied to mandatory obligations, with the WBC ordering a title defense against Agit Kabayel. That leaves Verhoeven waiting to see if a second fight can be arranged or if another heavyweight opportunity emerges.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/19 at 4:06 PM
