Boxing news: Rico Verhoeven claims he ‘only showed a few tools’ in loss to Oleksandr Usyk
Kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven claims that he only utilised a select few of his tools in his closely contested loss to heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk - and that next time, he’ll widen his arsenal to get the result.
Verhoeven: ‘I was doing really well’
In light of a controversial 11th-round stoppage, Verhoeven felt he was “doing really well” before falling at the hands of the Ukrainian.
"I like to believe there is a world where maybe he wasn't at his best, I was doing really well, and those two things came together to make the fight look the way it did," Verhoeven told Sky Sports.
"I definitely hurt him in different spots, especially to the body. Not hurt to the point where I was close to getting him out of there, but the next day, he will have felt that.
"This is just me opening the toolbox. I only showed a few tools. There are multiple ways we can fight Usyk.
“The next one, again, is going to be a surprise," Verhoeven added.
‘Big fights, crazy locations’
"I'm open to seeing what opportunities become available because I've been reached out to by the whole world,” Verhoeven said, referring to the direction of his surging career in boxing.
“It's been crazy. Let's see what next steps make sense.
"I just want to make the biggest fights - big fights at crazy locations. We draw a bunch of viewers.
“They've seen what we're capable of, and they see I'm one of the top box-office stars.
"It's not up to me who I fight next. It's up to the organisation. Who do they want to see me against?
“I'll be ready to fight anybody - anybody."
What’s next for Usyk and Verhoeven
Usyk is likely to face top contender Agit Kabayel next, as that is his obligation as boxing heavyweight world champion over these crossover fights.
However, Verhoeven without a doubt made a notable impact that puts him among the biggest names at heavyweight to potentially get another opportunity against a household name.
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