“It will be the biggest shock boxing has ever seen,” Bellew told DAZN when asked how Verhoeven could beat Usyk. “It will be the greatest victory in boxing history.”
Bellew pointed to Usyk’s stature in the heavyweight division and the level of opposition he has beaten in recent years.
“Yes, this is his second professional fight on paper,” Bellew said of Verhoeven. “But this is a guy whose second pro fight is against the undisputed unified, former cruiserweight champion of the world.”
“He’s undefeated. No one could touch this guy.”
Bellew also dismissed the idea that Usyk is slowing down despite being 40 years old.
“This is a highlight Oleksandr Usyk,” Bellew said. “He’s just beaten a man who’s 20 stone and 6’9 in Tyson Fury twice.”
“He just defeated a wrecking machine in Daniel Dubois, who was on the run for his life.”
Bellew may be overstating the situation. Verhoeven has next to no professional boxing experience, but he is still a giant heavyweight with years of elite combat sports experience. He also faces a 39-year-old Usyk, who has already accomplished everything possible in boxing and earned generational wealth in the process.
Verhoeven does not enter the fight as a complete novice despite his limited boxing background. The Dutch heavyweight has spent years competing against dangerous opponents in kickboxing and is physically much larger than many of the fighters Usyk faced during his cruiserweight years.
Questions also remain about how much Usyk has left after back-to-back fights against Tyson Fury and his recent fight against Dubois.
Still, Bellew believes the magnitude of the task facing Verhoeven cannot be overestimated.
“If Rico Verhoeven has to do it, it’s off the Richter scale,” said Bellew. “It will be the biggest shock in boxing history!” 😯
🎟️ Buy USYK vs RICO HERE –> https://t.co/FoiaUucafv #UsykRico | Glory In Giza | 23 May | @ringtydskrif 📷🤳 pic.twitter.com/eJJgeNhMCk
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 13, 2026
