LONDON (AP) 鈥� Oleksandr Usyk offered an explanation Tuesday for why he’s giving kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven a shot at his WBC heavyweight title.
鈥淥ne time I want to do what I want,鈥� the 39-year-old Usyk said at a news conference.
The undefeated Ukrainian’s WBA and IBF belts won鈥檛 be on the line when he faces the 37-year-old Dutch kickboxer in a 12-round bout on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Usyk, who hasn鈥檛 fought since a at Wembley Stadium last July, said 鈥渁 lot of people鈥� have asked why he’s fighting a novice, while the likes of Agit Kabayel 鈥� the WBC interim champion 鈥� wait in the wings.
鈥�(Verhoeven’s) a great guy, a dangerous guy,鈥� said Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs). 鈥淎 lot of time I do what other people (demand). I say OK, OK, OK 鈥� now, I do what I (want).鈥�
Verhoeven says Usyk 鈥榳ill go down鈥�
The 6-foot-5 Verhoeven won his only bout as a boxer, which was in 2014. He was a longtime heavyweight kickboxing champion.
He was asked how he’ll accomplish what no other pro boxer has been able to do 鈥� beat Usyk.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to bring kickboxing angles, bring a different type of puzzle,鈥� Verhoeven said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a big unit. I鈥檓 like 125 kilos (265 lbs).”
Usyk, a former cruiserweight champion, fights at under 230 lbs and has beaten an array of larger opponents, including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
鈥淲hen I land my best punch on him, of course he will go down,鈥� Verhoeven said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 like a built-up cruiserweight. I鈥檓 like a naturally born heavyweight. So, that鈥檚 a big difference. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to happen if I land my best shot clean, and if not we鈥檙e just going to win.鈥�
Usyk responded: 鈥淲e鈥檒l see.鈥�
Earlier in the session, Usyk had said 鈥渟ize doesn鈥檛 matter鈥� and that he just needs to train and eat.
鈥淗ard training and good pasta 鈥� good pasta, double portion. It鈥檚 magic,” he said.
Verhoeven also name-dropped British action star as 鈥渙ne of the people that initiated this opportunity, so super thankful to him.鈥�
Usyk says Joshua would beat Fury
Usyk was asked what will happen if Fury and Joshua finally meet in the ring: 鈥淎J win. It’s the future undisputed champion.鈥�
Fury returned from his latest retirement to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov in a unanimous decision victory Saturday , who was seated ringside, to fight him next.
Joshua didn’t commit on Saturday but told Netflix that “contracts will be sent over. You鈥檒l probably see us in the ring.鈥�
Eddie Hearn, who is Joshua’s promoter, said Tuesday that he’s optimistic a deal will be reached for a fight later this year.
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