Tyson Fury Shares Prediction for Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven in Giza

Oleksandr Usyk will make his long-awaited boxing return on May 23 in Giza, defending his WBC belt against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven. The WBC has permitted Usyk a voluntary defense before he faces his mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel. Currently, Usyk holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts and has not fought since stopping Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July.

This bout marks a unique clash, as Verhoeven transitions from kickboxing to boxing, bringing a reputation for knockout power. Usyk, despite being 39 years old, remains a seasoned professional with only 24 fights on his record, having turned pro in late 2013.

Tyson Fury’s Verdict

Tyson Fury, who retired in January 2025 but will return to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, shared his thoughts on the matchup, providing a Tyson Fury prediction for fans. Fury emphasized the unpredictability of the heavyweight division.

“[Verhoeven’s] a big man, isn’t he? Big right hand,” Fury said.

“I’m sure Usyk’s faced plenty of right-handed people who can knock people out, i.e. Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois. He’s fought a lot of big men with a similar style to Rico but, listen, [Verhoeven’s] a big man, he’s got a chance, he’s got power. Who knows what he can do there? Usyk’s, what is he, 39 years old now?

“But the thing with him is he’s only had 24 [professional] fights – he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on the clock. And he turned pro in late 2013, so I think he’s going to be alright.”

Fury’s remarks underline the potential for surprises in this heavyweight showdown. The Usyk vs Verhoeven fight promises an exciting contest, with Verhoeven’s size and knockout threat meeting Usyk’s experience and technical skill, making it a fight fans cannot miss.