Tony Bellew has spoken about how Rico Verhoeven would fare in fights against Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
He was up on the cards after 10 rounds, and was only undone in the 11th when he was caught several times with big shots by Usyk, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight. Many people think it came too early and that Verhoeven should have been given the chance to come out for the final round.
Speaking to Fight Your Corner, Bellew suggested that Verhoeven wouldn’t fare as well as against other heavyweights now that he has shown his abilities.
“I think you’re looking at Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou all over again. And I think, unfortunately for Rico, the footage is out there. [Opponents are] all going to see what he brings to the table. He hasn’t spent long enough in the boxing game to change his style – that is his style.
“I think he’s in a real dangerous position, and I think he just needs to hunt for Oleksandr Usyk and stay away from the others. If he was to be let go against a Daniel Dubois, or an Anthony Joshua, [it’s] a completely different matchup. You’re meeting thunderous punches.”
Verhoeven has been vocal about his desire for a rematch with Usyk, and while Usyk hasn’t ruled it out, he hasn’t yet committed to a second fight with the Dutchman, and instead he has been ordered to defend his WBC belt against Agit Kabayel.
