‘Undoing of him’: Tony Bellew breaks down Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

On May 23, at the Pyramids of Giza, Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven will take place in a fight very few would have predicted, and even fewer would have said they would meet for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title.

Fight fans around the world will be able to catch the action live on DAZN. It has not yet been specified whether the event will be included in the DAZN subscription or offered as a separate pay-per-view (PPV). Ahead of this bout that has the boxing world talking, Tony Bellew recently spoke to First Round TV about Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: WBC reveal big change

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 changed drastically, with the WBC announcing on 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.”

This change of stance has split the boxing world, drawing criticism from many, while others are just happy to see Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) returning to the ring.

Tony Bellew breaks down Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

Speaking to First Round TV, Bellew discussed Rico Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO):

“He’s been in camp with the Fury’s for many years. He’s sparred many rounds with Hughie Fury. He’s sparred hundreds of rounds with Tyson Fury, and he’s been around Peter Fury a long time.

“Peter wouldn’t embarrass himself with taking on a clown, so it lets you know he can definitely fight. But I just think Usyk’s so clever and wise. Two, three rounds maximum, he’ll figure him out. He’ll have got the timing down to a T, and I think by round five, six, he’ll be teeing off on him, and he won’t know where they’re coming from. 

“He’s an amazing kickboxer. He’s one of the best. I think Ernesto Hoost is the best kickboxer ever, but that’s up for debate. But he’s a strong guy. He’s got very good hands for a kickboxer, but listen, you’re coming into our discipline. No one is ever going to come into our discipline and beat us at it. It’s like we can’t go into their discipline. If this was a kickboxing match, he’d kick Oleksandr Usyk’s legs off in a bout two rounds. But thankfully it’s not, it’s a boxing match, and I think after that six or seven-minute period where he’s really difficult and hard to figure out, I think then you’ll see the undoing of him,” said Bellew.