Oleksandr Usyk’s fight against Rico Verhoeven is being treated more like a spectacle than a serious heavyweight title defense by Teddy Atlas, who spent much of his preview joking about pyramids, King Tut, and whether Usyk even must focus fully on the fight.
“We got a greater probability of seeing King Tut make a comeback than we do of seeing Verhoeven pull off what could be beyond upset,” Atlas said on his channel while previewing the May 23 fight in Egypt.
“It’s an event. If anyone deserves just a little break, look, you don’t take anyone without any consideration. He’s a giant strong guy. He’s in good condition. He’s physical. His game is experienced within the kickboxing realm. You don’t take anyone without any consideration, but he doesn’t figure to have any probability against Usyk.”
Atlas spent much of the preview talking concerning the setting on the Pyramids of Giza, greater than the actual competitive side of the fight.
“The pyramids. We’re going to see the Sphinx. We would see King Tut. We’re going to see something with this tomb or whatever. But we’re not gonna see an upset.”
The comments got here during Atlas’ latest podcast previewing the cardboard headlined by Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven. Atlas also argued that Usyk has earned the precise to take a softer fight after years of facing elite opposition.
“Usyk deserves a simple one. He’s earned it. He unified the heavyweight title twice,” said Teddy. “He unified all of the cruiserweight belts. He won a gold medal within the Olympics. The guy does nothing but win, and he fights everybody.”
Atlas also questioned how aggressive Usyk will even decide to be once the fight starts.
“It’s going to be not can he do it. Does he need to do it? Does he need to do it and how briskly does he need to do it?” said Atlas.
“He’s going to make use of his jab. He’s going to take a lay of the land. He’s going to look over on the Sphinx. Is it deteriorating anymore? Is it beginning to lose its nose just a little bit? Is it being built up again? Oh, back to the fight.”
Atlas added that Verhoeven’s high guard and upright stance could make him a simple goal for Usyk’s mixtures if the heavyweight champion decides to push for a stoppage.
“When a man covers like that, you’re fighting a man like Usyk, it’s like having a heavy bag in front of you. Usyk will put punches together. He’ll take what you give him. He’ll go to the body or split the guard with the uppercut,” said Atlas.
The quotes got here on Teddy Atlas’ podcast while previewing Usyk-Verhoeven
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Last Updated on 2026/05/18 at 12:43 PM