{"id":336875,"date":"2026-05-18T22:13:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=336875"},"modified":"2026-05-18T22:13:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:43:47","slug":"teddy-atlas-laughs-off-rico-verhoevens-possibilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/teddy-atlas-laughs-off-rico-verhoevens-possibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Teddy Atlas Laughs Off Rico Verhoeven\u2019s Possibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Oleksandr Usyk\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe got a greater probability of seeing King Tut make a comeback than we do of seeing Verhoeven pull off what could be beyond upset,\u201d Atlas said on his channel while previewing the May 23 fight in Egypt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an event. If anyone deserves just a little break, look, you don\u2019t take anyone without any consideration. He\u2019s a giant strong guy. He\u2019s in good condition. He\u2019s physical. His game is experienced within the kickboxing realm. You don\u2019t take anyone without any consideration, but he doesn\u2019t figure to have any probability against Usyk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Atlas spent much of the preview talking concerning the setting on the Pyramids of Giza, greater than the actual competitive side of the fight.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe pyramids. We\u2019re going to see the Sphinx. We would see King Tut. We\u2019re going to see something with this tomb or whatever. But we\u2019re not gonna see an upset.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comments got here during Atlas\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cUsyk deserves a simple one. He\u2019s earned it. He unified the heavyweight title twice,\u201d said Teddy. \u201cHe unified all of the cruiserweight belts. He won a gold medal within the Olympics. The guy does nothing but win, and he fights everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Atlas also questioned how aggressive Usyk will even decide to be once the fight starts.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s 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?\u201d said Atlas.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to make use of his jab. He\u2019s going to take a lay of the land. He\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Atlas added that Verhoeven\u2019s high guard and upright stance could make him a simple goal for Usyk\u2019s mixtures if the heavyweight champion decides to push for a stoppage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a man covers like that, you\u2019re fighting a man like Usyk, it\u2019s like having a heavy bag in front of you. Usyk will put punches together. He\u2019ll take what you give him. He\u2019ll go to the body or split the guard with the uppercut,\u201d said Atlas.<\/p>\n

The quotes got here on Teddy Atlas\u2019 podcast while previewing Usyk-Verhoeven<\/p>\n

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