{"id":342479,"date":"2026-05-29T13:38:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=342479"},"modified":"2026-05-29T13:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:08:21","slug":"hearn-says-rico-verhoeven-earned-oleksandr-usyk-rematch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/hearn-says-rico-verhoeven-earned-oleksandr-usyk-rematch\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearn Says Rico Verhoeven Earned Oleksandr Usyk Rematch"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rico Verhoeven entered his fight with Oleksandr Usyk as a heavy underdog. Eddie Hearn believes he left Egypt with something way more worthwhile: a legitimate case for a rematch. Hearn believes Verhoeven modified the conversation along with his performance.<\/p>\n

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\u201cListen, I\u2019m not saying people weren\u2019t excited concerning the fight, but nobody gave Rico a probability,\u201d said Hearn to Fight Hub TV.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, especially in Holland, they\u2019ll think that Rico can win. And perhaps he can, but I believe Usyk would do a greater job next time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Verhoeven\u2019s performance surprised much of the boxing world. The longtime kickboxing champion used his size, movement, and awkward style to bother Usyk for long stretches of the fight before being stopped late.<\/p>\n

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Hearn believes the result modified your entire conversation around a second meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I used to be Usyk, I\u2019d be rematching Rico Verhoeven right away in Holland, right? And I’d probably end my profession there with a win,\u201d said Hearn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I do think that results of that fight gives him an excuse to run it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the fight, few people were asking for a rematch. Many saw it as a one-time crossover event. After eleven rounds, Hearn sees it otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cRico deserved a variety of credit and a variety of respect,\u201d said Hearn.<\/p>\n

Whether a rematch happens stays unclear, with Agit Kabayel and other contenders still pursuing title opportunities. Hearn\u2019s view is that Verhoeven modified his standing with one performance. Before the fight, few believed he could compete with Usyk. After it, a second fight suddenly looks much easier to sell.<\/p>\n

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Olly Campbell<\/strong> is a boxing journalist who has covered the game since 2014, providing ringside reporting and technical evaluation of major bouts. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments, and the main points that shape high-level competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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