Verhoeven warns Usyk he will feel 20kg weight difference

Rico Verhoeven says his kickboxing background and natural size will pose problems Oleksandr Usyk has never faced when the pair meet in a proposed crossover bout.

“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 is the reigning Glory heavyweight kickboxing champion and competes at 123 kg. Usyk moved up from cruiserweight to heavyweight and has never shared a ring with a fighter of Verhoeven's frame. The Dutchman believes his stance and movement patterns will present a tactical puzzle Usyk cannot solve with conventional boxing craft.

What it moves

The remarks set up a style clash that hinges on rule set. If the contest takes place under boxing rules, Verhoeven's striking tools narrow. If hybrid rules apply, the weight and reach advantages become amplified. No date or venue has been announced.

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