Andy Ruiz Jr. Picks Oleksandr Usyk To Stop Rico Verhoeven In Sixth Round

“I think it’s going to be a tough fight for Usyk’s opponent. I think Usyk has the experience. He has the speed, the accuracy, and the faith, especially him fighting over here in this historic place,” said Andy Ruiz Jr. to DAZN Boxing.

“It’s going to motivate him even more to give a better performance. So, I think Usyk is going to take it. It’ll probably be in the sixth round.”

Ruiz’s prediction lines up with the general reaction from much of the boxing world heading into the event. Verhoeven enters the fight as one of kickboxing’s biggest names, but he has never faced a fighter with Usyk’s movement, pace, and championship-level boxing experience.

The location has also become one of the biggest talking points during fight week. Fighters and media arriving in Egypt have repeatedly spoken about the scale of the event and the atmosphere around the Pyramids setting. Ruiz appeared to believe the environment itself could sharpen Usyk mentally before the opening bell.

Usyk comes into the fight after victories over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua cemented his position as the leading heavyweight of his era. Rico is attempting one of the biggest crossover jumps the sport has seen in years. The size and physical strength are there, but many fighters and trainers still see the gap in boxing experience as the deciding factor.

Some fans still want to see how Rico handles Usyk’s movement early. That part alone should answer a lot quickly.