Dmitry Bivol explained that Oleksandr Usyk struggled against Rico Verhoeven because the kickboxer's awkward, unpredictable style made him difficult to adjust to, comparing it to sparring with an unfamiliar partner. Bivol noted Verhoeven's physicality and unconventional movements created problems, though Usyk improved late as Verhoeven tired over 12 rounds. Despite the competitive bout, Bivol continues to rank Usyk alongside Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield as the best heavyweight of his generation.
Dmitry Bivol has offered his analysis of why Oleksandr Usyk found Rico Verhoeven a difficult opponent, while still placing the unified heavyweight champion among the greatest fighters of any generation.
Usyk, 39, carries a perfect 24-0-0 professional record and remains undefeated as he continues to operate at the top of the heavyweight division. The Ukrainian southpaw stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and trains out of the Ready To Fight camp. Despite his dominance, Bivol suggested the bout with Verhoeven exposed something rare: a stylistic puzzle Usyk took time to solve.
Verhoeven, nicknamed "The King of Kickboxing," brought a 66-10-0 record into the contest and at six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, he held physical advantages over most opponents. The 37-year-old Dutchman's unorthodox kickboxing movement and unpredictable patterns were at the heart of Bivol's explanation. The Russian light heavyweight likened facing Verhoeven to stepping in with an entirely unfamiliar sparring partner, where the body simply cannot rely on trained instincts.
Bivol noted that Verhoeven's physicality compounded those problems, though he acknowledged Usyk began to assert himself in the later rounds as the Dutchman's output dropped across the full twelve rounds of boxing.
Why it matters
- Verhoeven's style exposed the limits of even elite preparation, offering a case study in how unorthodox movement can disrupt world-class fighters
- Despite the competitive nature of the bout, Usyk's unbeaten record at 24-0-0 remains intact
- Bivol placing Usyk alongside Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield elevates the discourse around Usyk's historical standing at heavyweight
- The comments add credibility to Verhoeven's transition into boxing and the genuine challenge he presented
