Former boxing champion Grigory Drozd expressed shock at how Rico Verhoeven, despite appearing technically like an amateur with "crab-like technique," was so effective against Oleksandr Usyk. Drozd described Verhoeven's style as looking like a first-year amateur who "curled up like a snail," yet praised his functional preparation and defense. He noted Usyk appeared helpless with "eyes like saucers," unable to understand how to approach Verhoeven's unorthodox bulldozer-like pressure and constant clinching. Drozd called it a stunning fight that gave him emotions he hadn't felt in a long time. He strongly criticized the premature stoppage, noting replays showed Usyk's final punch hit Verhoeven's glove and that Verhoeven was defending adequately. Most controversially, Drozd stated that Usyk looked so "toothless and helpless" that the absolute world champion should throw his belts in the trash after such a performance. He predicted that Agit Kabayel would "simply destroy" Usyk if they meet.
Former boxing champion Grigory Drozd has gone public with a blunt and wide-ranging assessment of Oleksandr Usyk's recent bout against Rico Verhoeven, expressing genuine shock at how the contest unfolded and making a bold prediction about Usyk's future.
Drozd reserved a mix of bewilderment and grudging admiration for Verhoeven. The Dutch kickboxing star, who stands six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach and carries a professional record of 66 wins and 10 losses, fought in a style Drozd described as resembling a first-year amateur who curled up like a snail and moved with crab-like technique. Yet Drozd acknowledged that Verhoeven's unorthodox bulldozer pressure, constant clinching, and functional defensive posture proved genuinely effective — enough to leave a fighter of Usyk's caliber visibly confused.
Usyk, the undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and a flawless 24-0 record, was described by Drozd as appearing helpless, with eyes like saucers, unable to solve Verhoeven's smothering approach. Drozd said the fight produced emotions he had not felt in a long time — though not entirely positive ones where Usyk was concerned.
Drozd also took sharp aim at the fight's conclusion, arguing the stoppage was premature. He pointed to replay footage suggesting Usyk's final punch connected with Verhoeven's glove rather than cleanly landing, and maintained that Verhoeven was defending adequately at the time.
His harshest words, however, were directed at Usyk's overall showing. Drozd stated that any absolute world heavyweight champion who looked so toothless and helpless should consider throwing his belts in the trash. He went further, predicting that German heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel would simply destroy Usyk if the two were to meet.
Why it matters
- Drozd's comments add prominent critical voice to debate over Usyk's performance against an unorthodox opponent
- The contested stoppage call remains a focal point of post-fight discussion
- A potential Usyk versus Kabayel matchup now carries sharper narrative weight given Drozd's prediction
