The Canelo controversial theory on Usyk vs Rico has caused a bit of a stir in boxing after a fight that surprised everyone.
Most people thought Usyk would knock Rico out easy in their heavyweight title fight at the weekend just gone.
Instead Rico boxed out of his skin in only his second professional boxing match ever to scare Usyk out of his skin.
Nearly beating him on points but for a late stoppage from Usyk and a controversial referee stoppage that most thought was too early.
Mexican boxing star however Canelo Alvarez has said the ref saved Rico from a brutal knockout, some things to note on this:
- Stoppage after the bell: Ref stopped the fight seconds after round 11 ended, denying Rico rest and a final round.
- Rico was competitive: Verhoeven was winning on many cards, had dropped Usyk earlier, and was still defending on his feet after the knockdown.
- Not a brutal KO situation: Rico beat the count with his hands up — many felt he wasn’t in immediate danger requiring an instant stoppage.
- Against majority opinion: Most fans, analysts and fighters (including Rico’s own team even) called the stoppage premature or suspicious.
- Canelo’s defense of it goes against the strong consensus, to say the least.
A rematch of Usyk vs Rico doesn’t look like it will happen.
But without doubt Rico has a future in boxing and then some if he wants to pursue big fights in boxing.
Styles make fights as well and his style just appeared to suit a very dramatically in decline Oleksandr Usyk — who was fighting scared in there it looked like.
Some think Usyk might be done at the highest level after last weekend, but hey, who knows what fights he will be in next.
