Verhoeven banks on size and kickboxing stance against Usyk

Rico Verhoeven says his kickboxing background and natural weight advantage will pose problems Oleksandr Usyk has not faced before. The heavyweight believes his style breaks the traditional boxing mould Usyk has mastered.

“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 but would meet Usyk in a boxing ring under different rules. Usyk has operated across cruiserweight and heavyweight, solving every puzzle presented by orthodox boxers. Verhoeven's claim rests on bringing movement and power shaped outside the sport's conventions.

What it moves

Usyk has not commented on a potential crossover bout. Verhoeven's confidence centres on attributes Usyk cannot replicate through technique alone. Whether a kickboxer's stance translates to advantage under Queensberry rules remains the open question, and sanctioning bodies have not addressed such a matchup.

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