Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: The WBC changes stance on heavyweight bout

The boxing world has received plenty of shocking news in recent weeks, with Conor Benn moving from Matchroom to Zuffa Boxing. Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 was also confirmed, and then Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven was announced, leaving the boxing world wondering what could be next. The WBC seemed intent on billing this as a “special event,” but it appears they have now changed their stance on the fight.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: Vital change confirmed by the WBC

Originally, as reported by Dan Rafael and others: “The WBC fully supports this cross over fight. It will be a WBC ‘special event’ and we will create an unbelievable belt featuring the elements of Pyramids of Egypt. The WBC supported Fury vs. Nganu [sic] which turned out to be very competitive and we have full respect of Rico as a legendary kickboxing heavyweight champion. At this moment there has not been discussion of a request to be a title defense and just a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”

This stance appears to have changed drastically, with the WBC announcing via their own website: “After careful consideration, the WBC Board of Governors has ruled in favor of sanctioning WBC World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s voluntary title defense against legendary kickboxing Champion Rico Verhoeven.”

The WBC sanction voluntary defence for Oleksandr Usyk

The WBC agreed to Usyk as their heavyweight champion, having a voluntary defence. They have also revealed that they received a petition to sanction the Usyk vs Verhoeven fight as a voluntary defence, which has now been granted.

Verhoeven is an elite kickboxer, competing in the heavyweight division, and is unbeaten for 11 years. He has proven himself in that discipline and is now daring to be great by facing the mercurial Ukrainian, one of the greatest boxers of this generation.

The WBC confirmed that Usyk’s recent activity and willingness to fight the best, as proven by his wins against Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice, and Daniel Dubois twice, influenced their decision to approve this as a voluntary defence.

Has the WBC got this decision right?