Verhoeven: My kickboxing stance will trouble Usyk

Rico Verhoeven believes his kickboxing background will pose unique problems for Oleksandr Usyk when the pair meet. The heavyweight says his unorthodox movement and natural size advantage could upset the unified champion's puzzle-solving approach.

“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 123kg and has spent his career in kickboxing, where stances and footwork differ from traditional boxing. Usyk has built his reputation on adapting to opponents and solving stylistic riddles, but the Dutchman thinks his hybrid skillset falls outside that template.

What it moves

Speaking to BBC Sport, Verhoeven said Usyk has pulled the puzzle of boxing out and put it back together, but added he is not a traditional boxer. He told reporters his stance is different, his movement is different and he is a naturally big, athletic guy, predicting that when he hits Usyk, the champion will feel a natural 20-kilo weight difference.

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