Usyk might be done at the very highest level of professional boxing after his latest fight with Rico.
Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk looked far from undisputed at the weekend just gone.
A late stoppage and a bad stoppage by the ref after being taken all the way by a kickboxing champion with just one professional boxing match before they fought.
But Usyk wasn’t himself and it was more than a bad night at the office.
It showed rapid physical decline and some technical decline as well.
He has been living the good life and lost his edge for us. He was pale and unwell all week and reality hit home when he got in there.
Some things to note on this as well:
- He is 39 years old which isn’t old these days for athletes but he isn’t taking things as serious as he used to.
- He looked flat and slow against Verhoeven.
- Footwork and speed have dropped.
- Recovery takes longer now.
- He needed a controversial late stoppage.
- No more big traditional threats left.
- Heavyweight wars cause more damage at his age.
- Experts see clear signs of decline.
- He has talked about retiring around age 41 — has one foot out the door already.
The eye of the tiger wasn’t there anymore with Usyk.
Rico had plenty of it to his credit.
Usyk was very close to a shocking loss.
Rico was the big winner in many ways at the weekend and Usyk has seen and done it all in boxing now.
In a weak heavyweight era.
Usyk might call it a day soon but we think he will fight on.
Who knows what fights Usyk will be in next.
