Oleksandr Usyk urged to retire after tough Verhoeven victory

Former promoter Alex Krassyuk urged heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to consider retirement following a hard‑fought 11th‑round TKO win over former kick‑boxer Rico Verhoeven. Krassyuk said Usyk “did not look fresh”, was trailing on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage and showed signs of fatigue, weight gain and reduced footwork.

Krassyuk warned that “he has to stop. It’s better to leave one hour before than two minutes after” and cited the champion’s age, approaching 40, and the physical toll of past fights. He expressed concern for Usyk’s health, legacy and family, and suggested retirement would preserve his reputation as one of boxing’s greatest.

Usyk, who retained his WBC heavyweight title, has indicated he plans to fight until age 41 before opening a sports academy, but the promoter’s comments have sparked debate about the future of the Ukrainian champion.