When Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven was first announced, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
Like many fans, I assumed Usyk was simply jumping on the crossover boxing bandwagon. After conquering cruiserweight, becoming undisputed heavyweight champion and defeating the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, it felt as though he was cashing in against a kickboxing star because there were no obvious names left.
In fact, I questioned the whole thing when the fight was first announced:
I expected Usyk to win comfortably.
Instead, the fight left everybody talking.
Now, after the controversial ending and Verhoeven’s calls for a second fight, the debate over a Usyk Rico Verhoeven rematch is well and truly underway.
The question is simple.
Has Rico Verhoeven actually earned another opportunity?
The First Fight Changed A Lot Of Minds
Coming into the contest, Rico Verhoeven’s lack of professional boxing experience looked like it would be his biggest problem.
Instead, the kickboxing legend exceeded expectations.
Not only did he make the fight competitive, but there were moments where it genuinely felt like he was asking Usyk questions that few opponents have managed to ask throughout his career.
Then came the controversial stoppage.
As discussed in:
many fans were left feeling that the ending came too soon. Whether you agreed with the referee or not, there was one thing most people seemed to agree on.
The finish left unanswered questions.
And unanswered questions are usually good for business.
Did Rico Verhoeven Discover The Blueprint?
This might sound strange when we’re talking about one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation, but there were moments where it looked as though Verhoeven had found something.
Maybe it was simply an off night for Usyk.
Maybe age is finally catching up with him.
Or perhaps Rico Verhoeven’s style created problems that other opponents simply haven’t been able to create.
Whatever the explanation, it felt different.
For the first time in a long time, Usyk didn’t look completely in control.
That alone explains why Verhoeven is pushing so hard for another chance and why plenty of fans want to see the story finished properly.
The Problem Is The Rest Of The Heavyweight Division
The biggest issue isn’t whether an Usyk Rico Verhoeven rematch would sell.
Of course it would.
The problem is that other fighters have earned their opportunities.
Agit Kabayel, in particular, has been waiting patiently for his shot, and there is already frustration surrounding the situation.
We’ve covered that in more detail here:
From a sporting perspective, it becomes difficult to justify pushing contenders further down the queue for a rematch.
That’s why many people believe Verhoeven should have to prove himself against another top heavyweight first.
Should Verhoeven Fight Someone Else?
Personally, I don’t think Rico Verhoeven needs five or six fights to prove himself.
He’s already shown that he belongs.
But one victory over a recognised contender would remove almost every argument against a rematch.
Beat a top heavyweight and suddenly nobody can complain.
The public gets the fight they want.
Verhoeven gets the opportunity he believes he’s earned.
And Usyk gets the chance to answer the questions that the first fight left behind.
Everybody wins.
My Take
I’ll happily admit that I got this one wrong.
When the fight was first announced, I thought it was little more than a crossover spectacle designed to make money.
I didn’t think Rico Verhoeven belonged in the same ring as Oleksandr Usyk.
The first fight changed my mind.
Maybe it was a bad night at the office for Usyk.
Maybe Verhoeven genuinely stumbled upon the blueprint to beat him.
Either way, I completely understand why Rico wants another opportunity.
And I completely understand why fans want to see it.
That doesn’t mean it should happen immediately. Fighters like Agit Kabayel deserve their opportunities too.
But if Verhoeven can show that the first performance wasn’t a one-off, then I’d have absolutely no problem seeing the story finished properly.
Because unlike many rematches, this one doesn’t feel like a cash grab anymore.
It feels like unfinished business.
Your Turn
Do you think Rico Verhoeven deserves another shot at Oleksandr Usyk, or should the heavyweight division move on?
Leave a comment below and share your thoughts with other boxing fans. And if you enjoyed this article, make sure you share it and head over to CMBoxing for more opinion, analysis and heavyweight boxing debate.