By: Sean Crose<\/p>\n
Admittedly, it was surprising to learn that heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk was going to take on virtual boxing novice Rico Verhoeven as his next opponent. Usyk, after all, is considered the consummate professional \u2013 a man who takes the fight game seriously. Let Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua take on the Jake Pauls of the world. Usyk would keep it real. Or so the fight world thought. Yet here we are, with Usyk set to take on Verhoeven next month in Egypt, proving yet again that boxing is a sport loaded with surprises.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s true Verhoeven isn\u2019t a complete and total newbie \u2013 the man has had one single boxing match to place on his resume \u2013 he\u2019s as close to being a novice as one can get without actually being a novice.\u00a0 Again, Usyk\u2019s choice of opponent is a bit unexpected. Here\u2019s a question we should be asking ourselves, however: What\u2019s so wrong with Usyk jumping onthe novelty fight bandwagon? He\u2019s been the undisputed champion of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions \u2013 a stunning accomplishment. He\u2019s also spent the past several years defeating Joshua, Fury, and Daniel Dubois on two occasions a piece. Again, a stunning accomplishment.<\/p>\n
So, again, what\u2019s wrong with the guy hopping on the novelty fight bandwagon? When you look at things objectively, absolutely nothing. While it\u2019s true novelty bouts have taken over the sport in recent years to a large degree, it\u2019s not like Usyk is simply searching for easy paydays without first having paid his dues. This undefeated future Hall of Famer has earned the right to engage in this bout with Verhoeven. It\u2019s not like he\u2019s going to spend the remainder of his career doing this sort of thing. Chances are this is a one match deal, a one-off if you will. Usyk himself has sated he wants to return to serious competition after the Verhoeven fight.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not forget, though, that this IS boxing, a sport where anything can happen. When I\u2019m asked how I think a fight will go, I\u2019m always hesitant because the truth is you just don\u2019t know (for the record, a far younger version of myself picked Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson). It\u2019s good to keep in mind that UFC legend Francis Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury in his first boxing match. Fury beat the count and ended up winning the fight on the judge\u2019s cards \u2013 somewhat controversially- but it all went to show there are no guarantees in this sport.<\/p>\n
Verhoeven, after all, is a ferocious fighter. Although making his mark as a kickboxer, the Dutchman certainly knows his way around the world of combat sports. All it takes is just one well placed punch. It\u2019s hard, however, to picture the undefeated 24-0 Ukrainian losing to Verhoeven\u2026even if Usyk is now 39 years of age. The guy is such a self conscious, focused and mobile boxer that it would take quite an imagination to picture him allowing himself to get hit clean or to simply be outboxed by a man who hasn\u2019t first made his mark on boxing.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s even harder to imagine, however, is a lot of North Americans rushing to catch this one live. Most Americans won\u2019t watch a novelty fight unless they know what the novelty is. And few Americans are aware of who Usyk is. That\u2019s not a good thing, of course, but it is what it is. This will be a fight between Europeans that will transpire in the shadow of the pyramids. In other words, don\u2019t expect Super Bowl or World Cup final viewing numbers. Still, there\u2019s no doubt serious fans will be checking it out from across the globe. Novelty bout or fight of a lifetime, Usyk is a fighter worth checking out. Provided Usyk wins as expected, though, die hard fans will be more focused on who Usyk will fight after Verhoeven.<\/p>\n
For Usyk, though, it\u2019s all about the here and now. \u201cOne time, I want to do what I want. Not what I need because a lot of time I do what other people need,\u201d says Usyk, (via Fights Around the World).\u00a0 \u201cNow, I do what I need.\u201d And what he needs, apparently, is to share the ring with a highly regarded kickboxer. To each his own \u2013 especially when you\u2019re a two division undisputed champion.<\/p>\n
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