Tyson Fury, Andy Ruiz Jr and boxing world predicts Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: ‘Getting ironed out’

Rico Verhoeven opens up as a massive underdog against Oleksandr Usyk this weekend.

The aptly nicknamed ‘King of Kickboxing’ tore through the glamour division during a dominant 12-year reign as Glory heavyweight world champion.

AFP

And while many of his 21 knockouts have come with his hands, the 37-year-old has only boxed once as a professional all the way back in April 2014.

That night, he knocked out Hungarian journeyman Janos Finfera, who retired with an unremarkable 0-6 record.

To say a fight with Usyk, the pound-for-pound king of boxing, is a step-up would be a massive understatement.

The boxing fraternity is almost unanimously picking Usyk to blow away Verhoeven in a couple of rounds.

But there is one brave heavyweight contender who is backing Verhoeven to upset the applecart.

Who is backing Rico Verhoeven?

Jarrell Miller – Heavyweight contender

“I came up on the kickboxing scene with Rico Verhoeven. You know Glory and K-1, phenomenal fighter in his respective sport,” said Miller when speaking to Matchroom.

“If you want to go with statistics, yes. The fight favours Usyk, yes, Usyk supposed to win, and all that.

“Yes, we can say that, but I’m going with my boy, I’m going with my boy Rico, man.”

Matchroom

Who is backing Oleksandr Usyk?

Tyson Fury

 “[Verhoeven’s] a big man, isn’t he? Big right hand,” Fury told talkSPORT’s Gareth A. Davies.

 “I’m sure Usyk’s faced plenty of right-handed people who can knock people out, i.e. Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois.

“He’s fought a lot of big men with a similar style to Rico but, listen, [Verhoeven’s] a big man, he’s got a chance, he’s got power.

“Who knows what he can do in there? Usyk’s, what is he, 39 years old now?

“But the thing with him is he’s only had 24 [professional] fights – he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on the clock.

“And he turned pro in late 2013, so I think he’s going to be alright.”

Andy Ruiz Jr – Former unified heavyweight champion

“Usyk should win,” Ruiz Jr. told casino.org.

“He’s an experienced fighter. He’s the champion. He’s the undisputed heavyweight champion.

“But I heard a lot of people saying for him to be careful against Verhoeven. He’s no joke.

“I’ve seen a few little videos of him hitting the bag and some fights, but I think Usyk beats him, especially if he’s not using his legs.”

Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Hamzah Sheeraz – Super middleweight contender

“I think he [Verhoeven] is going to get absolutely ironed out,” Sheeraz told talkSPORT.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful, and I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but you are fighting Oleksandr Usyk.”

Johnny Nelson – Former cruiserweight world champion

“I don’t think it will be a stoppage,” the 59-year-old told Boxing King Media. “I think it’ll be a points win for Usyk.

“I think Rico will be very fit, very strong.

“Limited in regards to technique in comparison, but I think he’ll go the distance.

“He’ll grab and hold. Unless the referee jumps in and saves him, but it won’t be a beatdown.”

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