Frank Warren has weighed in on Rico Verhoeven’s surprise performance against Oleksandr Usyk.
Use has never been beaten in the professional ring, and has hardly ever even come close, despite twice fighting Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion turned two-time undisputed heavyweight king has often shown he has everything in the ring, from slick defence to great IQ, a huge heart and plenty of technical ability.
However, against Dutchman and novice boxer Verhoeven, he was pushed as hard as anyone has pushed him until he got a controversial stoppage in the 11th round.
Speaking to iFL TV, Warren was asked if he was surprised by the showing of kickboxing champion Verhoeven.
“He stunned me. I never thought that in a million years. He shaped up well, he moved well, he was aggressive and he slipped, continual movement and he was strong. It’s funny, when you look at it, it’s a bit like Ngannou when Ngannou first boxed Tyson.
“Nobody knew if he could box or not and he actually came out and looked OK, and done well, but he never had any video footage of him as a boxer to study or look at, and I suppose it’s the same as Rico.
“I know he had a fight what is it 15, 16 years ago whoever it was they were saying, but he’s a tough sod and got a good boxing brain, Peter Fury and the team done a good job on him.
“I actually thought it turned to be a really good fight and enjoyable fight. I actually had him winning it. I had him four or five up. The scoring was atrocious.”
Many now believe a rematch with Verhoeven is the only possible next fight given how close this contest turned out to be, and especially as there is a belief the referee’s stoppage came too soon, while former members of Usyk’s team have encouraged him to retire.
