Dmitry Bivol explained that Oleksandr Usyk struggled against Rico Verhoeven because the kickboxer's awkward, unpredictable style made him difficult to read, comparing it to sparring an unpolished newcomer. Bivol believes Usyk would perform better in a rematch now that he understands Verhoeven's approach. Despite the challenging bout, Bivol ranks Usyk alongside Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield as one of the all-time greats, citing his undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight achievements.
Dmitry Bivol has come to the defense of Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian heavyweight's difficult outing against kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, placing Usyk in the company of boxing's all-time greats despite the struggle.
Bivol explained that Verhoeven's awkward, unpredictable style was the primary reason Usyk found the contest so difficult to navigate. The light heavyweight contender likened facing that kind of unpolished, unconventional movement to sparring with an inexperienced newcomer in the gym — someone whose habits and rhythms are simply harder to read than a trained boxer's. Bivol added that he believes Usyk would perform considerably better in a rematch, now that he has a clearer understanding of how Verhoeven moves and operates.
Oleksandr Usyk, 39, enters that conversation as arguably the most decorated heavyweight of his generation. The southpaw from Ukraine stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach and carries an unblemished professional record of 24-0. He became undisputed cruiserweight champion before ascending to heavyweight and claiming the undisputed title there as well, a dual undisputed achievement that places him in rarefied air in the sport's history. Bivol explicitly cited those accomplishments in ranking Usyk alongside Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield.
Verhoeven, meanwhile, is a different kind of fighter entirely. The 37-year-old Dutchman holds a 66-10 record and stands six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, competing out of Superpro Sportcenter. His background in kickboxing gives him movement patterns and timing that diverge sharply from traditional boxing, which Bivol's comments suggest was central to the confusion Usyk experienced.
Why it matters
- Bivol's framing recontextualizes Usyk's performance as a style problem rather than a decline in ability
- A potential rematch between Usyk and Verhoeven carries new narrative weight given Bivol's assessment
- Placing Usyk among Tyson, Lewis, and Holyfield signals where his peers believe his legacy currently stands
