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Darren Barker: Oleksandr Usyk has earned the right to do as he pleases
In his latest exclusive column for DAZN News, Darren Barker gives his thoughts on the clash between heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxer Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23.
Usyk is the governor
I don’t think the WBC world heavyweight title should be on the line for Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Rico Verhoeven.
With that said, in my opinion Usyk can do what he wants. He's the governor.
He’s a modern living legend and he's pretty much fought everybody. If this is the fight that's going to generate him the most money, then good luck to him.
Not surprisingly, I reckon he wins it comfortably.
I've not seen bundles of Verhoeven but he's been in and around Tyson Fury's camp and Peter Fury’s training him, so he's in safe hands.
But you're talking about taking on one of the best to ever do it in the history of boxing.
Commercially, it makes sense, it will do big numbers — and these crossover fights do capture the imagination.
As we saw with Francis Ngannou against Fury and then against Anthony Joshua, people are just intrigued. I think this one will have that same intrigue.
MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
But yeah, Verhoeven doesn't stand a chance in hell.
I do feel for the likes of Agit Kabayel, who won the WBC interim title last year against Zhilei Zhang. He'll be desperate, gagging for his shot at Usyk.
He'll probably have to have another fight now, which is always dangerous when you’re waiting for your shot.
I don't mind the fight — I just don't know why the WBC need to be involved. Let a proper fighter fight for the belt. Somebody like Kabayel. But whatever happens, it won't affect Usyk’s legacy.
DAZN
Looking ahead, talk of Usyk vs. Fury continues. But when there’s a trilogy, it's very rarely when one fighter's won two. If a third fight does materialise, I would imagine the same thing would happen again.
It would be another Usyk win. Do I want to see it? I'm not sure.
I would probably rather see Usyk against Kabayel or someone like that. Give someone else a chance.
I can understand why Fury wants to fight Usyk again. He wants to right the wrong.
But what happens if he wins? Are we going to have a fourth fight? I just think someone else deserves a crack at Usyk.
Darren Barker was speaking to Gavin Glicksman
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