The Usyk vs Rico heavyweight title boxing match is later this month and everyone has had a view on the fight.
Most agree that it is maybe the biggest mismatch in heavyweight boxing history.
Much more than the Tyson vs Buster Douglas fight in 1990 where Douglas shocked the world to knock out Tyson in Tokyo.
Tony Bellew has called the Usyk vs Rico fight if Rico were to win would be the greatest victory in boxing history.
He’s right.
It would not only be the biggest upset in heavyweight boxing history but surely in all of world title history in any weight division at all.
In the history of professional boxing history.
Here’s why we agree with Bellew that it would be the greatest upset in boxing history — referencing other big shocks in boxing history:
- Verhoeven is 1-0 in pro boxing while Usyk is 24-0 and holds WBC, WBA and IBF titles
- Usyk is undisputed former cruiserweight champion and current unified heavyweight champion
- Usyk beat Tyson Fury twice and stopped Daniel Dubois
- Buster Douglas was 42-1 vs Tyson in 1990 but had 29 wins and was a ranked contender
- Hasim Rahman KO’d Lennox Lewis in 2001 but had 35 fights and was former USBA champion
- Leon Spinks beat Ali in 1978 but was an Olympic gold medalist with 6 pro wins
- Andy Ruiz beat Joshua in 2019 but was 33-1 and ranked top 10
- Verhoeven is unranked by WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO
- No kickboxer with 1 boxing fight has ever beaten an undisputed heavyweight champion
- Usyk has not lost at cruiserweight or heavyweight in 24 pro fights
Usyk is undefeated at the moment and has been beating everyone lately in recent years.
Rico is up against it but the flip side is he has no pressure on him.
Usyk does look slower than usual lately though — clearly training for power — maybe Rico can try to use this to his advantage a little.
