Usyk admits 'hard' fight with Verhoeven after clash

Oleksandr Usyk has described his fight against Rico Verhoeven as a difficult test. The former undisputed heavyweight champion said the bout met his expectations for quality.

“This fight was hard. It was a good fight.”

— Oleksandr Usyk, via BBC Sport

What Oleksandr Usyk said

Usyk spoke to BBC Sport following the clash with Verhoeven. The Ukrainian has not confirmed his next opponent or whether he will remain at heavyweight. Verhoeven represents a crossover challenge from kickboxing.

What it moves

Usyk's assessment suggests he found the opponent competitive despite his own pedigree. The lack of detail about future plans leaves the heavyweight picture unsettled. A rematch or fresh opponent could emerge depending on sanctioning moves.

Source: bbc.com. Full Oleksandr Usyk fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.