Rico Verhoeven Weighs 258.7 Pounds for Usyk Fight as WBC Champion Comes in at 233.3
Updated
Updated · MMA Fighting · May 22
Rico Verhoeven Weighs 258.7 Pounds for Usyk Fight as WBC Champion Comes in at 233.3
7 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · May 22
258.7 pounds put Rico Verhoeven more than 25 pounds above Oleksandr Usyk’s 233.3 at Friday’s official weigh-in for Saturday’s heavyweight main event in Egypt.
Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title is on the line, but the unbeaten champion has handled larger men before after rising from cruiserweight and beating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
233.3 pounds still marked a career-high for Usyk, about seven pounds above his last fight, suggesting he added size for the title defense.
Verhoeven enters only his second professional boxing match and his first since 2014, crossing over after an 11-year reign as Glory kickboxing champion.
Will Usyk's career-heaviest weight boost his power or betray the agility that has defined his reign?
Can a kickboxing legend with elite sparring partners but one pro fight genuinely dethrone boxing's pound-for-pound king?
Is this pyramid showdown a legitimate title fight or the future of boxing as pure global entertainment?
Glory in Giza: Usyk vs. Verhoeven, Odds, Legacy, and the Rise of Crossover Boxing
Overview
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven are set to face off near the Giza pyramids in Egypt, creating a unique and grand stage for this highly anticipated boxing event. The fight has captured global attention, with Verhoeven himself highlighting the historic significance of competing at such an iconic venue. As the bout approaches, much of the discussion centers on the fighters’ physical differences—Usyk’s recent weight of just over 227lbs versus Verhoeven’s 269lbs from his only professional boxing match—and how these factors, along with the betting odds, will shape what promises to be a compelling spectacle.