Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven | Full Fight Highlights

Fighting out of the blue corner, wearing black trimmed with gold and orange. His official weight 258.7 lbs. This international combat sports legend from 2013 until a few months ago when he vacated his title was undefeated in the combat ring. Ladies and gentlemen, the challenger, the former undisputed kickboxing heavyweight world champion from Hollen, Netherlands, the king of kickboxing, Ricardo Rico.

and across the ring, fighting out of the red corner, wearing burgundy trimmed with gold. Weighing in at 233.3 lbs. Since capturing Olympic gold in 2012, he now has a perfect professional record, 24 victories in 24 fights, 15 big wins by knockout. He’s captured two division championships. Ladies and gentlemen, from Kev, Ukraine, the former undisputed cruiserweight world champion, now the ring, WBC, WBA, universally recognized linear undefeated heavyweight champion of the world Alexander.

Elson. >> Okay. Your shorts are a bit high. There we go. Anything on top of that belt is good. Okay. Okay. Gentlemen, you’re boxing for the heavyweight championship of the world. I’ve already spoken to you both. You know what I expect. Stay professional, obey my commands, and most of all, protect yourself at all times.

God bless you both. >> Two heavyweight champions from different to beat, batter, and bury him in the Egyptian desert tonight. 12 rounds for the heavyweight championship of the world. Alexander Usyk, Rico Barhuven. Here we go. >> Straight away, who’s going to find the rhythm with their jab first? How is Vhouven going to approach this? Is he going to try and be the boss, the aggressor, or he try and wait for Usyk to lead and try and counter? I can’t see that being the option. I feel like he needs to be the boss, try and be the aggressor here. A lot of footwork and movement from Rico and a STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND ON THE BUTTON. >> Good bit of movement there from Van Hoover there. Just pushing him back with the jab and then right hand over the top. And it’s I think it’s imperative to have a good start. He’ll fill him with confidence

and he’ll need that chance of Rico here ringside. A lot of Dutch fans making the trip to the desert. >> Just having a look trying to work out his man. Look at the size of the legs of Rico Verhovven. Can those legs bounce like that for 12 rounds, Barry? >> Well, I I would I would probably say no, but he might not need to.

I think it’s apart from him that know he’s rushing us now. Then he double he double the jab. He brings his feet in fast because he’s such a a big guy. He’s forcing us back in straight line for a minute. Like the head movement as well. There’s not a static target. Cannot afford to be against Usyk. waiting for us to really unccort that left hand in kickboxing.

Oh, not that bad. Right there from Rico. >> Clash of heads perhaps. >> I was going to say in kickboxing, Rico switches stances quite often. Not sure if he’s going to do it here in the Sweet Science. >> It seems like he’s not as square on as I’ve seen him in the the kickboxing ring. Bit more side on.

Like the way he’s got his chin down, shoulders rounded, >> he looks so much bigger than us. Massive. >> Look at positive start here. >> Well, we know that Usyk figures spiders out and then takes over right now. Seems to be downloading the information. What do I exactly have in front of me right now? This 6’5, 256-lb freak in nature.

>> Great shot. >> Are you impressed so far, Derek? That was really a good committed to that right to the body, didn’t he, Barry? Lovely shot. >> Oh, whatever. You can see he’s winning this round. >> Yeah, I see a bit more of that from us. The faint the right hook as well. Look at the movement of a Hovven.

all to his left hand side constantly >> combination there from music. >> I think no weight on the shot to worry the hoo >> all in all considering what we thought we might see. Rico gets an A+ plus performance attack >> Peter Fury in the corner of Rico Behovven. They’ve been training together for about 15 years.

Darren, what’s Peter Fury fighters? What are they known for? >> I mean, hardworking, technically sound >> and mentally very strong as well. And >> movement. >> Movement as well. Very, very good footwork. And we’re seeing that here, aren’t we? I must say again, it’s all to the left hand side of Usyk. We know well, he throws that right hook.

> Better foot movement there. Nice uppercut, then a straight left hand. >> Here’s where he can maybe maul him a little bit. You guys thought this might be a good strategy. >> It’s just the physical presence. put your weight on him. But I mean, he hasn’t needed that in in the first round.

He was pushing him back with straight punches. There’s no massive jeopardy there for for Usyk, but taken by surprise over that first round. >> Usyk seems to be just kind of in first gear right now. There’s a right hand, but Rico really forcing the issue. >> Yeah, and he’s tucking up well when he comes forward. >> Kind of hooking the shots in round the side, working the body, then leans on Malip. the work of Usyk coming back.

>> Yeah, it’s been a good start. >> Rico, a kickboxing record 66 and 10, 27 straight victories. Probably doesn’t even remember the last time he lost. It’s been so long. >> So, he’s not going to lose it. >> It’s a look further than a moral victory. He’s got triumph. >> He has captured this and and shocked the world.

He’s trying to nullify and stop and confuse us with that lead hand. He just sort of taps it out that right hand as he did there. Right handed chasing the cat around the ring. Just the variation. Look at it. You know, a moment ago was on the back foot. Now he’s on the front foot now. Leaning on. There’s a bit of wasted energy there with the throwing those hands so fast and there’s nothing on them.

But the leaning on music is very important. But what that does as well that it sends, you know, uh something to the judges that you’re busy, you’re working, you’re looking confident. >> Oh, Rico got comfortable there. Got off balance. Might want to settle down a little bit. over there through another one through the gap there from us.

>> And he knows this is a fantastic finish up. USYK the little lead that Rico’s put together about to come crashing down now here in the fourth. >> He’s got he got his legs back underneath him moving with his food. Oh no, he’s eating it. shot. >> Look at this though. >> Recover there. Of >> course, this is a 12 round fighting kickboxing Rico’s championship fights for five threeminute rounds, but I mentioned earlier he did recently compete in a one night eightman tournament where he fought three three round fights IN A SINGLE NIGHT. THE ANGLES THERE. The shots here FROM US >> JUST FLOWING a lot better now. Not

loaded up with the shots. Good shot. >> Lovely little uppercut as he was coming forward there for us. >> Knock the gunshield out. He needs to find different angles here. Alexander >> stay switched on over a couple of times there. He had his left hand lower. He got caught with a couple of right hands.

>> Much better round four here from the champ. >> He really is. It’s good to see him back. That fight available on his own as part of your ultimate subscription. Round five here between Rico and Usyk. A lot of people didn’t think it’d even go this far. >> What was your official predictions, guys? >> Oh, that Usyk wins anyway he wants to.

Quite comfortable and and then and stops him within five rounds. That’s the truth of it. >> Yeah. Around six, seven mid rounds. But >> it hasn’t been the fight we thought. >> Not at all. And you got to give credit there. Back to Hoover. It’s him. He’s He’s over that right hand for Hoover. Might as well step back on the left for us.

>> Nice left THERE FOR RICO JUST COMING FORWARD METHODICALLY trying to just walk through those punches. Really? >> Let’s bring in Mike Hinger with a scorecard. >> Yeah, Todd. I Hov incredibly impressive. He got an active jab. He’s moving his head. He’s aggressive. He’s confident. did a lot better in that fourth round, but Rico’s still in this fight and no matter what happens now, we’re all impressed by Rico.

>> Yeah, I think you know he’s ahead, but you feel tired is shifting here is changing us center of the ring as I say more active with the hands to step to his right hand side a little bit and meet VH who’s moving constantly to his left hand side with that right hook. You guys talked about all the faints that Rico was going to have to react to that Usyk was going to give him.

>> Rico’s a faint machine in this fight, >> but also he’s constantly doing something with his hands. He twitching with his shoulders, constantly move them up and down. And that maybe takes the focus on that offer a little bit slightly. And then when he does attack, he can’t read as good as he norally does.

>> I think again you asked the question about Peter Fury. What does he implement? And I think you know the non-punching activity with the hands always fainting you know that’s something you put into Vhoo for sure. >> Rico Verhovven said he used to spar Tyson Fury and get destroyed every time but he came back for more and more and then Tyson kept inviting him to his training camp because he knew just how tough Rico was and that he would always come forward and that’s what he’s showing us here tonight. Another opportunity just missed the trick to throw the counter. He stepped back after behoo through the right hand, but yeah THE SHOT. I TELL YOU ONE THING, is not willing to trade with him. He’s >> too smart, isn’t he, for that? >> Well, when you’re as big as Rico is, YOU DON’T WANT TO TRADE. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE. So that’s the first punch he for a while there. He’s

>> still moving freely, isn’t he? Van, you got to say it’s Rico, haven’t you? I mean, he looks a little bit he doesn’t look as in shape as he normally is. Usyk, but that’s You can’t make that. You can’t use that as an excuse. >> You do have a fight. You got to get fit for the fight.

You got to get ready for the fight. You got to win the fight. >> You mentioned it, Tom. That leaning arm. He really does push on and it’ll throw some heavy shots of something that I don’t think he’s been used to using. >> Well, Rico is a workout. He never cuts corners in SENSATIONAL SHAPE at all times and right now he still looks good and has that that movement, constant non-stop movement that he started the fight with.

And you see a COUPLE MORE LANDING JABS. >> A NICE LITTLE LONG left hook there as well there from Behovven. still most supple on his feet movement. >> I thought by this sort of time that the spring WOULD HAVE GONE OUT THE STEP of Hoover and it hasn’t. >> And now it’s Rico’s back against the ropes. >> He just looks nostalgic, doesn’t he? >> He looks unus for sure.

> If you’ve never seen a fight before, Round seven scheduled for 12. And I think anyone who’s watching right now thinks Rico is probably winning this fight, including our official score, our unofficial score, Mike Copinger. How do you have it through six full rounds, Mike? >> Yeah, Todd.

So far, I have Usyk winning just the one round. And I think Rico’s been really impressive. And really his defense, too. I mean, he’s making Usyk miss a lot in there. His jab has been on point. And I think lost in all this, it’s really been an entertaining fight. >> Indeed, here in round seven, if we’re getting to a point, gentlemen, if Rico wins one or two more rounds in a row, my math isn’t great.

Usyk’s going to need the knockdown to win this fight. >> I mean, it’s incredible. It really is. I mean, it’s all this non-punching activity. I mean, it’s stop Usyk letting his hands go. He’s got to be far busier. >> And there’s a lot of kickboxers watching right now who are licking their chops ABOUT, HEY, I’M GOING TO come to boxing.

I’m going to fight the champ. I can hang with him. >> Nice little looping right hand there from Vhovven had moving off the off HIS JAB for his jab. When he throws it, he goes spinning around the outside. M is getting some work in the play. Who’s up against the middle? >> Well, Alistister said there doesn’t look like there’s any signs of him slowing down, does it? Hoover look fresh in there still.

There’s a spring in THE STEP. I’M surprised with the with the mindset and the ability to work his opponent out. He’s not read this movement of behovven. CONSTANTLY GOING TO HIS >> AND NOW LUCY SWITCHES STANCES TO SOUTHPAW. He just can’t figure this guy out to the knees OF THE CHAMP. >> Tell you what, he’s going to get HIS HEAD UP HERE.

>> AND NOW going to open UP A LITTLE BIT. >> MAYBE HE’S sensing what we are all seeing that this is remarkable. It really, really is. >> Rico said, “Listen, this is no fairy tale. This won’t be a miracle if I beat him. This will be hard work, dedication, and a lot of discipline. Yes, I’ve been fighting kickboxing for almost two decades.

However, I’ve been training as the boxer for 15 years under the tutelage of Peter Fury, and I’m here to SHOWCASE MY SKILLS. Those skills are really working right now. >> This is incredible. >> Doesn’t have an answer for any of this at the minute. He’s stationary. He’s easy to hit. >> And another round for Vhovven.

And a good right hand right before the prize by Rico Verhovven in his second professional boxing match. Guys, if he wins this fight, he’ll be the first fighter in the history of the sport to win a world title in his second professional fight. And also, you got to think the fighters that couldn’t beat us. >> That’s the thing that they couldn’t beat him.

And then this guy just walks into the sport, you know, a brilliant and obviously the master of what he does, of course, in his squad, but he walks into the sport and and and beats our champion. >> But even if this version, you obviously seen this version in the past of Hoover fighting, you’d say he has no chance against the unpredictability of the way he’s fighting in there and the way he’s leaning on and that physical presence is has been incredible.

And before he can even get the shots off. >> More pressure now. More intent from us. >> Rico made those shots and turned around. Smart. Very, very smart. All right, we are heading into round nine. We’ll see Mike Carpenter’s unofficial scorecard in just a minute, but guys, I can’t believe I’m about to say this.

Alexander Usyk might need a knockout or at least a knockdown if he’s going to win this fight. >> Am I am I am my calculations correct or am I just >> They’re speechless. his numbers if that’s the case. >> Let’s look at Mike’s scorecard. There you have it. >> Mike, you’re you’re lost for words. >> Yeah, look, I mean, like Barry said, the tactics, Peter Fury has done an amazing job here putting Lucy on the back foot and Hovind, this has been incredibly impressive already.

Far more impressive in my opinion, anything did you have to score a knockdown or a knockdown? >> Incredible stuff. And you can see again Rico having success when he turns things physical. >> He just gets really close and just fires the shots into head and body. There was a nice rep that he threw as well for Hoover stabbed it into the body of us.

>> You know, there was a big controversy a few weeks ago when the WBC said, “You know what? Hey, yeah, this is for the heavyweight championship of the world.” Many people SAID, “WHAT? A GUY WITH A 1 AND0 RECORD? This is it. This is ridiculous. You can’t put the heavyweight title on the line.” >> Well, it is ridiculous cuz he had he hadn’t earned his shot.

That’s That’s the point. Not that he’s not good enough. He earned his shot to get there, but he’s shown he’s good enough. I mean, Uzi, I never thought I’d say this, but his feet have been awful. >> Really bad. See the confidence from Vuban as well just switching to South Leaning on nullifying the work of throwing shots again to the body.

Really well. >> All right, guys. I’ve just been told that in the arena they are going open scoring and that they have the score right now 7676. Mike Cinger, your thoughts? That’s according to Mauricio Sulaman of the WBC. >> That’s crazy. That’s not really reflective of what’s going on here. I mean, I think Usyk’s won two rounds at most.

And look, Usyk is a legend and he’s either the first or second best fighter in the world pound, but he’s not winning this fight right now or even. Well, maybe the four of us have it completely wrong and they’re right. >> That’s that’s better if I’m there some coming into the >> but then what we don’t usually see is that there he lands a good shot then he got caught with one usually defensively so sound.

>> 30 seconds to go here in round nine. Rico surpassing all expectations so far while Usyk does not look like himself. Rico switching southpark. >> I think he needs to increase it. I think he know knows what he needs to do. He always starts around positive on the front foot.

It’s just about sustaining again staying switched on as well. He’s been caught with shots that you wouldn’t usually get caught with. I think that’s the biggest point is not so much what he’s doing is after he does the work. He’s sort of switching up and getting caught by a big guy who’s rushing it. Rico just keeps marching forward, >> complaining that maybe Rico caught him with an accidental elbow.

>> The uppercut, the right idea there from us on the back foot. >> He’s right in front of us here, isn’t he? Ver. And you can see how much he really does lean on us. Well, win or lose, the amount of respect that Rico has earned here tonight is immeasurable. >> He’s just not able to get around the outside there, is he? I think he’s trying to trying to move his feet around, but >> Vo was just going with him.

>> From Rico marching down again. That last right hand sneaks through from Behovven. We always praise and credit Usyk’s in ring IQ. Barry, what should he be doing right now that he just isn’t? what he should have been doing from the beginning. More angles, more upper body movements, using that feet to to spin around the outside and then got those shots through the middle.

He’s throwing the shots through the middle, but he’s squared on. He’s right in front of a movement, so he’s there target. And also, the activity hasn’t been as much as he normally is with with He’s usually the busiest fighter IN THE RING. IS there is there any chance that maybe Usyk thinks he’s winning this fight and is just going steady as she goes? Is there any chance? >> I DON’T THINK SO.

>> He knows he’s got to do more. >> Haven’t seen a TON OF BODY SHOTS FROM US EITHER. Something he’s very good at. People were saying there’s no way that Rico could outbox US, BUT HE COULD OUTWORK HIM. And guys, I’d argue HE MIGHT BE DOING BOTH OF THEM right now. It seems here in the 10. This is what we needed for Lucy in a great shot for better from the champion.

Rico and a good one too. >> And Rico is right in the thick of things. A good finish to round 10 though for the champ. >> It breaks my heart to say it’s these puzzle fights, they sort of work, don’t they? >> The fight could hang in the balance here over the last two. Is this where Usyk comes to life as we’ve seen him do in prior fights, especially against AJ and Tottenham Stadium? >> He’s looked fatooted all night.

Fatooted up the snow off the mark. Can Can you attribute all that to to the weight game? >> Well, maybe, but also looking at your SCORECARD STILL PRETTY WIDE. >> YEAH, LOOK, I thought Rico Verhov was actually winning in that last round and then Usyk really came on and I thought heard Rico down the stretch.

I want to see Usyk really pressed the action now. He needs to score a knockdown, I believe. >> Looks like he’s sharpened up a little bit in this 11, but he hasn’t kept it going. You saw Rico use a shoulder there to push Usyk away. Double jab from Rico showing you the fundamentals he’s picked up over the years.

>> Peter Fury told Rico in the corner. You can’t switch off even for a second against us. Right hook upstairs. >> You got to dip into the body here now as well. When he LIFTS THAT HEAD UP, HE GOT THE BODY. >> STEVE J FROM REO AND THEN HE goes downstairs. >> Tough, isn’t he? >> Just when I FEEL USYK IS CLOSE TO SOMETHING, TO building something, lands or does this, grabs hold, leans on, and just stops that threat instantly.

>> Either way, this has been a great fight from an entertainment standpoint. Blood to the nose of us. PEOPLE SAY why even watch this fight? It’s going to BE SO EXCITED. DON’T even bother. It has been anything but. In fact, Rico might well be winning. >> Who do you think he is? One more that right hand up to this point but he can’t get rid of him.

He’s lots of shot lots of good shots there again. What a fantastic shot that was from Usyk. Oh, they’re going to give him time to put the mouthpiece back in. Oh, he looks unsteady. USYK’S COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. And he should be. Some valuable time wasted there. Close the show. What are you doing? Are you kidding?