Verhoeven backs weight edge to trouble Usyk in crossover bout

Rico Verhoeven believes his kickboxing background and size will pose problems Oleksandr Usyk has not faced in a boxing ring. The heavyweight champion told BBC Sport his natural mass advantage will tell if the pair meet.

“Usyk has pulled the puzzle of boxing out and put it back together, but I'm not a traditional boxer - I'm a kickboxer. My stance is different, my movement is different and I am a naturally big, athletic guy. When I hit him, he's going to feel a natural 20-kilo weight difference.”

— Rico Verhoeven, via BBC Sport

What Rico Verhoeven said

Verhoeven competes at 123 kg in kickboxing, while Usyk campaigns in boxing's heavyweight division after moving up from cruiserweight. The Dutchman has floated a crossover with the unified champion, though no formal talks have been announced. Usyk's puzzle-solving style saw him become undisputed at two weights.

What it moves

Verhoeven's claim rests on a stance and movement set Usyk has not dealt with in orthodox boxing matches. The weight gap and kickboxing roots could offer a different test, though any crossover would need backing from promoters and sanctioning bodies before moving past the call-out stage.

Source: bbc.com. Full Rico Verhoeven fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.