Verhoeven claims Fury exposed crack in Usyk's invincibility

Rico Verhoeven says Tyson Fury damaged Oleksandr Usyk's aura of invincibility despite losing their heavyweight rematch. The Dutch kickboxer believes the Ukrainian's legacy remains intact but that Fury proved he could be troubled.

“His legacy has been amazing anyway, but I definitely feel we made a crack in the guy that was considered invincible”

— Rico Verhoeven, via BBC Sport

What Rico Verhoeven said

Verhoeven, a heavyweight kickboxing champion, was commenting on the Usyk fight that saw the Ukrainian retain his unified titles. Fury took Usyk the distance in both meetings, with the first going to split decision and the rematch to unanimous decision. The Brit has since announced his retirement from boxing.

What it moves

Verhoeven's assessment puts weight behind the view that Fury pushed Usyk harder than any previous opponent. Speaking to BBC Sport, Verhoeven said Usyk's standing in the sport endures but that the rematch showed he is not untouchable. Whether Fury's stated retirement holds will determine if a third meeting tests that theory.

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