Frank Warren sends blunt Oleksandr Usyk warning over Rico Verhoeven
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On May 23, at the Pyramids of Giza, Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven will take place in a fight very few would have predicted. Even fewer would have predicted they would meet for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title. Fight fans around the world will be able to catch the action live on DAZN. It has not yet been confirmed whether the event will be included in the DAZN subscription or offered as a separate pay-per-view (PPV).
Ahead of this showdown, which has captured the attention of the boxing world, Queensberry founder Frank Warren has spoken to Oscar Bevis for The Stomping Ground, revealing his honest thoughts on the fight and what the Ukrainian should be doing.
WBC announce controversial stance change on WBC heavyweight title
The WBC’s original stance on Usyk-Verhoeven was reported by Dan Rafael and others: “The WBC fully supports this crossover fight. It will be a WBC ‘special event’, and we will create an unbelievable belt featuring the elements of Pyramids of Egypt. The WBC supported Fury vs. Nganu [sic], which turned out to be very competitive, and we have full respect of Rico as a legendary kickboxing heavyweight champion. At this moment, there has not been discussion of a request to be a title defense and just a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
This stance later changed, with the WBC announcing on their own website: “After careful consideration, the WBC Board of Governors has ruled in favor of sanctioning WBC World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s voluntary title defense against legendary kickboxing Champion Rico Verhoeven.”
Frank Warren delivers verdict on Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven
Frank Warren was asked by Oscar Bevis about Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven, and said: “I don’t like. I’ll tell you straight. He should have fought Fabio (Wardley); that’s what he should have done, and he didn’t do that.
“The next thing he should have done was fight Agit Kabayel. That’s who he’s got to fight next, for the WBC title. He’s got to defend that title, and we’re be pushing for that. He (Usyk) put out the three fights he’d like to make, and I have no problems with those fights. But if he wants to do those fights, he’s gonna have to vacate the WBC title, because Agit’s been there for a long time waiting,” said Warren.
“His next fight after he fights the kickboxer has to be for the WBC world title, or vacate the belt,” added Warren.
The Queensberry founder was then asked if it’s a kick in the teeth for fighters like Kabayel and Lawrence Okolie to see Verhoeven get his shot at Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC title before they do. A clearly animated Warren said: “The beçt shouldn’t be on the line for that. They can make a belt for that.”