Oleksandr Usyk currently holds three of the four major world titles in the heavyweight ranks, but an upcoming fight against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven has led many to call for him to vacate.
Usyk became undisputed in the sport’s top division for a second time last year, knocking out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Months later, he would vacate the WBO belt rather than face mandatory challenger, Fabio Wardley, who was elevated to champion.
In an interview with Casinostugan, Director of Team Usyk, Sergey Lapin, rejected the idea that the Verhoeven fight was more for spectacle than sporting merit.
“The first rule of boxing, especially in the heavyweight division, is that you should never underestimate or overestimate your opponent. Rico is a very tough fighter. He’s a strong puncher who can hit with both hands and he has serious physical power.
“Yes, he comes from kickboxing and his footwork will not be the same as top professional boxers, but he works well with his hands. He’s a big athlete, around 120 kilograms, tall and very strong physically. For us this is not some kind of freak show. This is a dangerous opponent and we take him seriously.”
Even so, most in the sport still disagree with the WBC’s decision to allow the Ukrainian to put his world title on the line against an unranked fighter who has just one bout in professional boxing.
It has highlighted an inconsistency in the sanctioning body’s policy, as when Tyson Fury, then WBC champion, faced Francis Ngannou in 2024, he was permitted to retain the belt but it was not up for grabs in the fight. Instead, the Brit took a one-fight break from defending as champion and resumed his traditional campaign after the Ngannou fight. The WBC, keen to still be involved, put a token belt on the line.
Lapin addressed this decision, as well as saying that he is currently in communication with the WBA and IBF to reach a solution about the status of those titles.
“What do I make of the controversy around the WBC title being on the line? These are working processes that the team is currently dealing with. A decision will be made in the near future. We respect all organizations and their rules, and we are trying to find a solution that will be correct for all parties involved.
“The situation with belts is always complicated because several organizations are involved and each of them has its own rules and obligations. Right now there are discussions taking place. Once everything is finalized, we will communicate it.”
The IBF and WBA are yet to comment publicly on the fight, and may well see fit to strip Usyk and allow the top contenders in their rankings to fight for vacant belts. The WBC, while sanctioning the fight, has ordered Usyk to face mandatory challenger Kabayel next.
