“When I get my best shot at him, he will go down because it’s a 20 kilo weight difference,” said Verhoeven. “He’s like a built cruiserweight, and I’m a natural born heavyweight.”
He also framed the fight as another moment where a dominant champion becomes the target, comparing Usyk’s position to his own time at the top of kickboxing.
“I’ve been dominating kickboxing for over a decade, facing the best and beating the very best, with a target on my back for many years like Oleksandr has a target on his back,” said Verhoeven.
Usyk did not engage with the size narrative. He kept his response short and to the point, showing no sign that the physical difference or Verhoeven’s confidence had shifted his mindset.
“May 23 could be a good fight,” Usyk said. “It’s not pressure. I’m preparing for this battle.”
The contrast between the two approaches was clear. Verhoeven leaned on power and size as the deciding factor, while Usyk treated the fight as another assignment, unaffected by the opponent’s build or reputation.
The fact that Usyk remains so relaxed suggests that he is betting on his superior mobility and ring IQ to neutralize that 20kg difference before Rico can even land his feet.
If Rico can turn this into a wrestleback and force Usyk to carry his weight, he could seed him in the later rounds. Barring a lucky strike, this is his best hope.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Verhoeven (1-0) on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, Giza, Egypt. The event will be broadcast on DAZN PPV.
