Carl Froch has questioned whether Oleksandr Usyk can even compete with the likes of Agit Kabayel, let alone beat them, following his sub-par performance against Rico Verhoeven.
The Ukrainian was made to look somewhat ordinary, at least for his typically high standards, as he fiddled his way to an 11th-round finish over Verhoeven last Saturday.
Prior to their contest, many had predicted that Usyk would dispatch his opponent within the first few rounds, all the while showing his superior class and experience.
This, after all, was Verhoeven’s second-ever professional boxing match, with his first arriving via a second-round stoppage of Janos Finfera – who retired with a 0-6 record – in 2014.
As it happened, though, the Dutch kickboxer produced a far more successful performance than many had suspected, with one judge having it 96-94 in his favour at the time of the stoppage.
The unified heavyewight champion then managed to floor his man in round 11, before referee Mark Lyson drew a controversial halt at the sound of the bell.
This came shortly after Verhoeven had regained his footing, with Usyk ultimately retaining his WBC heavyweight title and, in turn, maintaining his lofty position on the world stage.
While sharing an immediate reaction on his YouTube channel, however, Hall of Famer Froch suggested that the 39-year-old should seriously consider retirement.
“Has Usyk got old overnight? Is he looking a bit slow? 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 – and for him to lose because he shouldn’t be fighting anymore… it would be a tragedy.
“It was touch-and-go in there [against Verhoeven] and I was thinking, ‘Professional boxing’s on the line – not just Usyk’s career’.”
Usyk should soon be ordered to defend his title against WBC ‘interim’ champion Kabayel, who will hope to expose any signs of deterioration if they end up squaring off.
