“It would be the greatest shock boxing has ever seen,” said Bellew to DAZN when asked how Verhoeven could beat Usyk. “It would be the greatest victory in boxing history.”
Bellew pointed to Usyk’s standing in the heavyweight division and the level of opposition he has beaten in recent years.
“Yes, it’s his second professional fight on paper,” Bellew said about Verhoeven. “But this is a guy whose second professional fight is against the undisputed unified, former cruiserweight champion of the world.”
“He’s undefeated. Nobody has been able to touch this guy.”
Bellew also dismissed the idea that Usyk is slowing down despite approaching 40 years old.
“This is a peak Oleksandr Usyk,” said Bellew. “He’s just defeated a man who is 20 stone and 6’9” in Tyson Fury twice.”
“He’s just defeated a wrecking machine in Daniel Dubois, who was on the run of his life.”
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.
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.
Questions also remain about how much Usyk still has left after back-to-back fights against Tyson Fury and his recent battle against Dubois.
Still, Bellew believes the scale of the task facing Verhoeven cannot be overstated.
“If Rico Verhoeven is to do this, it’s off the Richter scale,” said Bellew. “It’ll be the greatest shock in boxing history!” 😯
🎟️ Buy USYK vs RICO HERE –> https://t.co/FoiaUucafv #UsykRico | Glory In Giza | May 23 | @ringmagazine 📷🤳 pic.twitter.com/eJJgeNhMCk
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 13, 2026
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