Carl Froch Says Oleksandr Usyk ‘Got Old Overnight’

Froch says Usyk looked slower and vulnerable against Verhoeven ahead of a possible mandatory defense against Agit Kabayel

Carl Froch believes Oleksandr Usyk may finally be showing signs of decline after the unified heavyweight champion struggled through difficult rounds against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. The former super middleweight champion questioned whether the 39-year-old Usyk can still deal with the division’s younger pressure fighters after the controversial 11th-round stoppage.

Usyk was expected to dominate Verhoeven without much trouble, especially with the Dutchman entering the fight with just one previous professional boxing appearance. Instead, the 39-year-old Ukrainian struggled for long stretches before stopping Verhoeven in the 11th round in a finish that quickly became controversial because referee Mark Lyson waved it off at the bell after Rico had regained his footing.

“Has Usyk got old overnight? Is he looking a bit slow?” said Froch on his YouTube channel. “Is his body looking a bit. I don’t know. He looks a bit spread around the middle. Usyk’s past his best. I’d hate to see Usyk lose and get beat because of age. He’s had such a fantastic career. He’s so good. One of the best to ever do it.”

“It was touch-and-go in there against Verhoeven, and I was thinking, ‘Professional boxing’s on the line. Not just Usyk’s career.’”

Froch believes the warning signs are there after Usyk looked far less dominant than expected against an opponent many fans believed he would stop within a few rounds.

“For him to lose because he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, it would be a tragedy,” said Froch. “That’s the danger now. Once fighters stay around too long, the younger heavyweights are coming.”

Usyk is expected to be ordered into a mandatory defense against Kabayel next. Kabayel has emerged as one of the division’s most dangerous pressure fighters after recent knockout wins over Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, and Filip Hrgovic.

Share on Facebook

Post on X