Oleksandr Usyk's Next Fight: Crossover Bout with MMA Star Rico Verhoeven Rumored
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was in New York last week for the prestigious Ring Awards and the Ring VI boxing event, headlined by Teofimo Lopez versus Shakur Stevenson. While the Ukrainian star was focused on celebrating boxing achievements, his visit quietly sparked intense speculation about his next move in the ring.
It has now been six full months since Usyk last competed professionally, leaving fans eagerly awaiting clarity on his future plans. For months, the dominant narrative pointed toward a long-awaited clash with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who remains the only major heavyweight name Usyk has not yet faced in his illustrious career.
Frank Warren Fuels Talk of Unexpected Opponent
However, fresh comments from veteran promoter Frank Warren suggest the situation may be shifting dramatically. Speaking during fight week events in London, Warren indicated that none of Queensberry's heavyweight fighters are currently in line to face Usyk, including established names like Tyson Fury and rising talents such as Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma.
According to Warren, this unexpected development opens the door for something very different from traditional boxing matchups. He strongly hinted that Usyk could be heading toward a surprise crossover fight against an MMA fighter, a decision that would likely keep the unified champion out of mandatory title defenses for the remainder of the year.
Warren warned that several top contenders would not be willing to wait around if such a crossover bout materializes, especially with mandatory obligations already piling up in the heavyweight division.
Rico Verhoeven Emerges as Rumored Opponent
The specific opponent generating the most buzz is Rico Verhoeven, a former GLORY heavyweight champion who has also boxed professionally in the past. Multiple reports suggest that discussions are actively underway for a fight in May, with MMA journalist Ruben Carter even claiming the bout is close to being finalized for May 9.
Not everyone in the boxing world is convinced about these developments. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Anthony Joshua, sounded uncertain when asked about Verhoeven's future, suggesting nothing has been finalized yet and leaving the situation completely open-ended.
Wilder's Camp and Industry Reactions
Deontay Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel also weighed in on the speculation, emphasizing that Wilder remains the biggest name Usyk has not fought. While Wilder must first get past Derek Chisora in his upcoming bout, Finkel sees Usyk, Joshua, and Wardley as possible next targets if that happens successfully.
The crossover talk intensified significantly after Turki Alalshikh, a prominent figure in combat sports, shared his interest on social media in seeing Verhoeven face Usyk. Despite this growing buzz, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman stated he is unaware of any real progress toward such a matchup.
This potential crossover fight represents a significant departure from Usyk's traditional boxing path and could reshape the heavyweight landscape for months to come.
