Dmitry Bivol explained why Oleksandr Usyk struggled against Rico Verhoeven, comparing it to sparring with an awkward opponent whose movements are unpredictable. Bivol noted that Verhoeven is not used to boxing 12 rounds at that pace, which allowed Usyk to dominate later rounds. Despite the difficult performance, Bivol still places Usyk alongside legends like Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield as the best of the current super heavyweight generation.
Dmitry Bivol has weighed in on Oleksandr Usyk's crossover contest against kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, offering a measured defense of the unified heavyweight king's performance while still placing him among the sport's all-time greats.
Bivol explained that Usyk's difficulty early in the bout was comparable to sparring with an awkward opponent whose movements are unpredictable. He pointed to Verhoeven's unfamiliarity with sustaining a full twelve-round boxing pace as the key reason Usyk was able to assert control in the later rounds.
Usyk, now 39 years old and fighting out of Ukraine under the Ready To Fight banner, carries a flawless 24-0-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, the southpaw has long been considered one of the most technically refined heavyweights in the sport's modern era.
Verhoeven, 37, enters any boxing context as a decorated combat sports figure in his own right, holding a 66-10-0 record under the banner of Superpro Sportcenter. The Dutchman stands six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, giving him notable physical advantages, though his background is rooted in kickboxing rather than the traditional twelve-round boxing format.
Why it matters
- Bivol's comments reframe what appeared to be a labored Usyk display as a natural byproduct of facing a stylistically unusual opponent
- Placing Usyk alongside Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield signals how seriously the light heavyweight titlist regards the current heavyweight champion's legacy
- The crossover result and its interpretation carry weight for how boxing audiences assess Usyk's standing heading into whatever comes next at heavyweight
