Max Kellerman Says Rico Verhoeven Was Outthinking Oleksandr Usyk

Kellerman and Gabe Rosado questioned Usyk’s performance after Verhoeven pushed the heavyweight champion into one of the toughest fights of his career

Oleksandr Usyk’s difficult fight against Rico Verhoeven is continuing to draw criticism after Max Kellerman claimed the heavyweight champion was being “outthought” for long stretches of the bout. Kellerman and Gabe Rosado both suggested Verhoeven created serious problems for Usyk before the controversial late stoppage in Egypt.

During Inside the Ring, Kellerman said Verhoeven was doing far more than simply surviving against the unbeaten Ukrainian.

“Rico was boxing brilliantly, outworking and unbelievably outthinking the great and normally masterful Usyk,” said Kellerman to InsideRingShow.

Kellerman added that the fight was becoming increasingly dangerous for Usyk before the late stoppage.

“Eventually, Usyk floored him with an uppercut late in the 11th,” said Kellerman. “But Rico fought so well, he deserved a chance to show that he could pull off the upset.”

The discussion quickly turned toward whether Usyk may have underestimated the challenge heading into the fight. Former world title challenger Gabe Rosado suggested the heavyweight champion physically looked different from previous performances.

“For the first time in his career, he looked a little fat,” said Rosado.

Rosado also argued that Verhoeven’s awkward rhythm and kickboxing background forced Usyk into uncomfortable situations that elite heavyweights usually cannot create against him.

“I think it took Usyk time to adjust,” Rosado said. “Rico surprisingly had skills, was applying a lot of pressure. He was smothering Usyk.”

Despite the criticism, most of the panel still backed Usyk as the best heavyweight in the world. Even so, the fight created fresh questions about the 39-year-old champion after one of the toughest performances of his heavyweight run.

The result also boosted Verhoeven’s standing overnight. Several members of the panel openly argued that the Dutch star now deserves recognition as a legitimate top-10 heavyweight contender after pushing Usyk to the brink before the controversial stoppage.

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