Following Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial win over Rico Verhoeven, Carl Froch has given his thoughts on the contest.
Many have called for Usyk and Verhoeven to have an immediate rematch, while Froch revealed he would like the pair to go their separate ways in their next bouts.
The heavyweight headline act took place last Saturday, and a major talking point after the fight was the referee’s decision to stop the contest in the 11th round.
Many felt Verhoeven, who was dropped in the 11th round, was fit to make it into the final round and, with the bell sounding during the final attack from the Ukrainian, believed he deserved the opportunity to return to his corner.
Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Froch gave an honest assessment of the two-time heavyweight world champion’s performance.
“He looked so bad.
“Usyk looked like he was struggling; maybe he was a little bit unmotivated.”
Many have called for the pair to rematch next, despite Agit Kabayel being the current mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBC title.
The German has been waiting in the wings for his opportunity for some time, having earned the mandatory position with his destructive win over Zhilei Zhang, whom he halted with a brutal body shot in the sixth round last February.
He has fought just once since that victory, headlining in Oberhausen, Germany, against the unbeaten Damien Knyba, whom he stopped in the third round.
Despite calls for a rematch between Usyk and Verhoeven, ‘The Cobra’ agreed that Kabayel is deserving of his shot next.
“I’m not sure if I want to see the rematch, to be honest.
“I’d like to see Usyk against Kabayel.”
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, promoter Eddie Hearn had a completely different verdict, saying that Usyk had little to gain from a win over Kabayel.
“If I was Usyk, I’d be rematching Rico Verhoeven straight away in Holland and I would probably end my career there.
“I don’t think he needs to fight Kabayel, who is a great fighter, but what does he have to prove?”
While Froch believes Usyk should move on, he did admit that the kickboxing star deserves another big fight and suggested two names.
“Rico certainly deserves a big fight. Maybe chuck him in with Fury or ‘AJ’.”
Fury and Joshua are set to collide around November this year after both men take part in separate warm-up fights beforehand.
Verhoeven may be eyeing the winner of that fight as the perfect opponent for his return in the new year.
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