Rico vs Usyk is being put together as some sort of destination vacation place to go to see a boxing match but that’s missing the point.
Anything that brings boxing to a new audience and grows the sport to new levels is welcome but not at the point of putting someone in danger with just one pro boxing match against an undefeated heavyweight champion.
Boxing is on its way back to the masses at the moment based on great 50/50 fights being made more regularly than ever now.
Some things to note going into this weekend:
- Usyk vs Rico is sold as a flashy vacation event in Egypt with the Pyramids as backdrop.
- The fight promotes tourism and spectacle more than real competition.
- Rico has only one professional boxing match.
- This creates a highly risky and one-sided matchup.
- Matching a novice against undefeated champion Usyk is dangerous.
- Modern boxing now prefers competitive and fair fights.
- Boxing is thriving with exciting, well-matched bouts.
- This event feels more like a paid holiday show than a title fight.
- It endangers Rico in a massive mismatch.
- Fans want real competition, not tourist attractions.
Usyk is expected to run over Rico this weekend.
Sure tourism in Egypt will do well and boxing will get a new audience there a bit, and certainly from more combat sports fans worldwide, but there has to be a balance.
Going into the fight Rico will have a weight advantage in his pros for him.
That’s about it.
