Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 1:50 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, May 27, 2026 1:57 p.m.
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk (39 years old), the absolute heavyweight champion, did not have a very convincing performance, even if he beat him on Rico Verhoeven (37 years old), established kickboxing fighter, at the end of the 11th round, his victory generating several reactions in the world of contact sports.
After the fight, his former promoter, Alex Krassyuk, said that the signs of age are starting to show in the Ukrainian boxer and he believes that it may be time to end his career.
Alex Krassyuk urges Oleksandr Usyk to retire
“We don't get any younger with time, it's natural and there's nothing you can do about it. The good thing is that Rico isn't a kid either. But if we analyze and see who has an advantage where, we can easily conclude that Usyk has more boxing experience, higher intellect, several levels of technique, footwork, everything needed to win a match.
Rico, however, has his advantages, such as actual weight, where he weighs 10-12 kilos more than Usyk, no, it's actually 15 extra kilos, and that's not fat, but actual muscle mass. Rico has a devilish heart, a true lion, a fighter who has gone through all kinds of hardships in his matches. He's been in every possible war in his career, has incredible stamina that he's trained, and had one of the smartest trainers on the planet in his corner. This is my personal opinion.
There were other advantages, and the biggest one, which I haven't mentioned yet, was the psychological or mental pressure. Rico had no pressure, because if he loses, he loses to the best on the planet. He earns money, becomes more famous. If Usyk loses, he loses absolutely everything: his fame, his legacy, his greatness, because people will remember him after his last match. And these small details make the difference,” he said according to sports.yahoo.com.
Alex Krassyuk, former promoter of Oleksandr Usyk
Before the 11th round, I had only given Usyk three rounds. Usyk didn't look fresh… He was at the heaviest weight we've seen him at, but did you notice the trend from his previous match with Dubois and this one with Rico? The number of steps he took in the ring dropped significantly. He no longer makes the most of his footwork, but is more focused on hitting harder when his feet are firmly planted on the ground to put more power into his punch.
If I had been there to advise him, his next opponent would have been his wife Katerina, his daughter Maria, his daughter Lisa and his sons, his family problems, maybe his business. That should be taken care of now. It should stop. It's better to leave an hour early than two minutes late. Unfortunately, this is the truth and it doesn't just apply to boxing, it applies to everything.
You can't make all the money in the world, you can't beat all the fighters in the world, but you have to make that decision, and it's very difficult for a guy like Usyk, who's at his peak. But think about the future. So with all my heart I wish him to retire in full glory and be remembered forever as one of the most distinguished and great fighters of all time.
– Alex Krassyuk, former promoter of Oleksandr Usyk
