Usyk undisputed heavyweight champion? Check. Boxing a novice pro boxer? Check. Why?
Well, it looks like he is looking for an easy pay day this weekend as he goes into a fight that many are calling the biggest mismatch in heavyweight boxing history.
For those new to boxing, here’s some background info on him, his opponent Rico and more:
- The term undisputed in boxing refers to holding all four major belts.
- Usyk held WBA, IBF, WBO, and WBC belts simultaneously in 2024.
- Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champion before Usyk in the three-belt era.
- A novice in boxing is typically defined as fewer than 10 professional bouts.
- Verhoeven has 1 professional boxing bout.
- Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua on September 25, 2021.
- Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on May 18, 2024.
- Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois on July 19, 2025.
- Verhoeven debuted in professional boxing on October 10, 2014.
- Verhoeven’s opponent Janos Finfera retired with a 0-6 record.
- Usyk won the World Boxing Super Series at cruiserweight.
- Verhoeven won the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2013 (in kickboxing).
The above makes for grim reading for Rico but he will have a lot of weight advantage on the night possibly.
He has shown some solid boxing as a kickboxer of course but kickboxing and professional boxing are two completely different sports.
The stance and the distance are completley different.
From where a boxer throws punches from versus the stance that a kickboxer uses to throw punches from as well, as a kickboxer is expecting kicks back at him and has a different stance to a boxer many times.
Two different sports but the the large fan base of Rico brings more new combat sports audience to professional boxing again.
A major plus point for the sport.
The card is solid as well this weekend and Usyk is expected to win by early knockout.
If Rico takes Usyk rounds that’s a big win in itself for Rico.
