{"id":958146,"date":"2026-05-14T00:23:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T00:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/958146\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T00:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T00:23:16","slug":"tony-bellew-calls-rico-verhoeven-usyk-biggest-shock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/958146\/","title":{"rendered":"Tony Bellew Calls Rico Verhoeven-Usyk Biggest Shock"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cIt would be the greatest shock boxing has ever seen,\u201d said Bellew to DAZN when asked how Verhoeven could beat Usyk. \u201cIt would be the greatest victory in boxing history.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bellew pointed to Usyk\u2019s standing in the heavyweight division and the level of opposition he has beaten in recent years.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYes, it\u2019s his second professional fight on paper,\u201d Bellew said about Verhoeven. \u201cBut this is a guy whose second professional fight is against the undisputed unified, former cruiserweight champion of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s undefeated. Nobody has been able to touch this guy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bellew also dismissed the idea that Usyk is slowing down despite approaching 40 years old.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is a peak Oleksandr Usyk,\u201d said Bellew. \u201cHe\u2019s just defeated a man who is 20 stone and 6\u20199\u201d in Tyson Fury twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just defeated a wrecking machine in Daniel Dubois, who was on the run of his life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bellew may be overstating the situation. Verhoeven has almost no professional boxing experience, but he is still a huge heavyweight with years of elite combat sports experience. He is also facing a 39-year-old Usyk, who has already accomplished everything possible in boxing and earned generational wealth in the process.<\/p>\n

Verhoeven is not walking into the fight as a complete beginner despite his limited boxing background. The Dutch heavyweight has spent years competing against dangerous opponents in kickboxing and is physically much larger than many of the fighters Usyk faced during his cruiserweight years.<\/p>\n

Questions also remain about how much Usyk still has left after back-to-back fights against Tyson Fury and his recent battle against Dubois.<\/p>\n

Still, Bellew believes the scale of the task facing Verhoeven cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf Rico Verhoeven is to do this, it\u2019s off the Richter scale,\u201d said Bellew. \u201cIt\u2019ll be the greatest shock in boxing history!\u201d \ud83d\ude2f<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Buy USYK vs RICO HERE \u2013> https:\/\/t.co\/FoiaUucafv<\/a> #UsykRico<\/a> | Glory In Giza | May 23 | @ringmagazine<\/a> \ud83d\udcf7\ud83e\udd33 pic.twitter.com\/eJJgeNhMCk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Ken Woods<\/strong> has been a senior writer at Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering the sport from every angle. With years of ringside reporting, he delivers fight news, results, and analysis that cut through the noise. Ken\u2019s work consistently spotlights champions, contenders, and rising prospects, giving fans a sharp, knowledgeable view of the global boxing scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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