It is clear to anyone let alone though in boxing that the Usyk slow concern is genuine as he gets ready for his next fight.
He takes on a kickboxer next up with just one professional boxing match in his career — in Usyk’s next heavyweight title boxing defense.
But in Usyk’s training and his interviews there are many noticeable sudden changes in him this year.
He’s not himself. He is training with emotion and also he’s very slow on the pads and on the heavy bag and speed bag.
He has put on a lot of excess muscle and bulk for this fight and sure, he might have gained a little but of strength, but he will have lost speed and actually lost punching power with that.
Here’s why the added muscle could hinder Usyk actually:
- More mass = slower acceleration: Bigger arms need more force to move fast.
- Usyk uses BFR cuffs in camp: They restrict blood flow to build muscle size, not speed.
- Hypertrophy ≠ hand speed: Strength training adds muscle but often doesn’t improve punch velocity.
- His team avoids bulking: Sparring partners said he “isn’t trying to bulk up massively” at heavyweight.
- Power comes from legs/hips: Punching force starts at the ground, not from arm size.
- Usyk’s natural weight is cruiser: He dominated at 200 lb. He’s 215–227 lb at heavyweight.
- Extra muscle hurts stamina: More bulk uses more oxygen and can slow combinations.
- He wasn’t a KO artist at cruiser: Added weight won’t magically make him a one-punch heavyweight.
- Rico is a kickboxer: Verhoeven is 1-0 in boxing since 2014. Speed beats bulk here.
- He looked bulkier but still fast before: Camps said he kept “same speed and agility” even when thicker.
Usyk all of a sudden has been taking and looking to take on more very mismatched fights and opponents.
Something doesn’t add up with Usyk this year.
Roll on what should be an entertaining fight for the sport however at the end of this month at the Pyrmiads in Egypt.
