Boxing Jun 02, 2026

Rico Verhoeven insists he has the armoury to hurt Oleksandr Usyk again after contentious stoppage in heavyweight showdown

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Rico Verhoeven insists he has the armoury to hurt Oleksandr Usyk again after contentious stoppage in heavyweight showdown

Rico Verhoeven insists he has plenty of tools in his armoury to surprise Oleksandr Usyk a second time.

Verhoeven came close to taking the unified world heavyweight champion the distance in their showdown earlier this month before Usyk forced a stoppage in controversial circumstances, with just one second remaining in round 11.

Speaking to Your Site, Verhoeven explained how he hurt Usyk in the ring - and how there will be much more from where that came from if the pair meet again.

"I like to believe there is a world where maybe he wasn't at his best, I was doing really well, and those two things came together to make the fight look the way it did," Verhoeven said.

"I definitely hurt him in different spots, especially to the body. Not hurt to the point where I was close to getting him out of there, but the next day, he will have felt that.

"This is just me opening the toolbox. I only showed a few tools. There are multiple ways we can fight Usyk. The next one, again, is going to be a surprise."

The dramatic conclusion to their fight at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza has fuelled calls for an immediate rematch.

Whether Verhoeven gets another shot at Usyk remains to be seen, with the Ukrainian ordered to face WBC mandatory Agit Kabayel or vacate that belt.

It has left Verhoeven in the dark over what happens next.

"I have no clue," he said. "It's not up to me. Let's see where his mind is at."

Should a rematch with Usyk fail to materialise, Verhoeven has just one stipulation for his burgeoning boxing career: the biggest fights in the best locations, whoever the opponent may be.

Asked whether he now sees his future in boxing, the former kickboxing world champion replied: "I hope so.

"I'm open to seeing what opportunities become available because I've been reached out to by the whole world. It's been crazy. Let's see what next steps make sense.

"I just want to make the biggest fights - big fights at crazy locations. We draw a bunch of viewers. They've seen what we're capable of, and they see I'm one of the top box-office stars.

"It's not up to me who I fight next. It's up to the organisation. Who do they want to see me against? I'll be ready to fight anybody - anybody."

Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki on Zuffa Boxing show in Bournemouth in June 6, live on Your Site.

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