Verhoeven says kickboxing stance will trouble Usyk

Rico Verhoeven believes his kickboxing background will give Oleksandr Usyk problems when they meet. The heavyweight says his movement and natural size will count against the former undisputed champion.

“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 and comes from a kickboxing base. Usyk holds multiple boxing heavyweight titles. The fight strategy centres on how Verhoeven's unorthodox style matches up against Usyk's technical boxing.

What it moves

Verhoeven is banking on a weight and style gap to overcome Usyk's boxing skill. The quote frames the contest as kickboxing movement versus ring craft. Usyk's camp has not yet responded to the challenge.

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