📂 Categoría: Boxing | 📅 Fecha: 1780048745
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Oleksandr Usyk avoided a monumental upset on Saturday when he came from behind to stop Rico Verhoeven in the eleventh round.
Trailing on one scorecard and level on the other two heading into the penultimate frame, Usyk picked out a perfectly timed lead uppercut that sent ‘The King of Kickboxing’ hurtling into the ropes.
The shot scrambled Verhoeven’s senses, and while he was able to beat the count, the Dutchman was subsequently stopped on his feet.
Some felt that referee Mark Lyson had jumped in too early, although there was no doubting that Verhoeven was on unsteady legs.
Having tasted the best Usyk could dish out, Verhoeven acknowledges that the Ukrainian can certainly punch.
But he isn’t the hardest hitter he has ever faced.
“He’s a very technical and intelligent fighter, and his power is good,” Verhoeven told talkSPORT.com.
“Nothing crazy, but he has a punch on him.
“He’s not the hardest I have been hit by; that would be Semmy Schilt.
“He hit way harder; he was a big guy with a lot of power.”
Who is Semmy Schilt?
To say Semmy Schilt is a ‘big guy’ is somewhat of an understatement.
Standing 6ft 11 1/2ins tall and weighing 290lbs, Schilt is a mountain of a man.
The aptly nicknamed ‘Hightower’ is also one of the most decorated kickboxers of all time.
Schilt is a former K-1 super heavyweight champion, Glory Kickboxing heavyweight titlist, and a four-time K-1 World Grand Prix winner.
He enjoyed a fruitful stint in MMA as well, where he won the Pancrase Openweight title, before going on to compete in the UFC and PRIDE FC.
What happened when Verhoeven fought Schilt?
Verhoeven met his compatriot, Schilt, in the semi-finals of the Glory Kickboxing Grand Slam tournament in December 2012.
‘The King of Kickboxing’ was just 23 years old and a year off the start of his legendary 12-year reign as Glory heavyweight champion, while Schilt was in the twilight of his career at 39.
Verhoeven got off to a strong start, forcing Schilt onto his heels early, but as the fight wore on, the towering veteran began to find a home for his ram-rodding jab and crushing teep kick.
Schilt dropped Verhoeven midway through the opening stanza with a massive knee, but it was wrongfully ruled a slip.
A big left hook then wobbled Verhoeven in the second round as Schilt poured on the pressure en route to a unanimous decision win.
The defeat to Schilt proved to be the turning point in Verhoeven’s career, with the generational great going on to win 28 of his next 29 fights.
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Oleksandr Usyk avoided a monumental upset on Saturday when he came from behind to stop Rico Verhoeven in the eleventh round.
Trailing on one scorecard and level on the other two heading into the penultimate frame, Usyk picked out a perfectly timed lead uppercut that sent ‘The King of Kickboxing’ hurtling into the ropes.
The shot scrambled Verhoeven’s senses, and while he was able to beat the count, the Dutchman was subsequently stopped on his feet.
Some felt that referee Mark Lyson had jumped in too early, although there was no doubting that Verhoeven was on unsteady legs.
Having tasted the best Usyk could dish out, Verhoeven acknowledges that the Ukrainian can certainly punch.
But he isn’t the hardest hitter he has ever faced.
“He’s a very technical and intelligent fighter, and his power is good,” Verhoeven told talkSPORT.com.
“Nothing crazy, but he has a punch on him.
“He’s not the hardest I have been hit by; that would be Semmy Schilt.
“He hit way harder; he was a big guy with a lot of power.”
Who is Semmy Schilt?
To say Semmy Schilt is a ‘big guy’ is somewhat of an understatement.
Standing 6ft 11 1/2ins tall and weighing 290lbs, Schilt is a mountain of a man.
The aptly nicknamed ‘Hightower’ is also one of the most decorated kickboxers of all time.
Schilt is a former K-1 super heavyweight champion, Glory Kickboxing heavyweight titlist, and a four-time K-1 World Grand Prix winner.
He enjoyed a fruitful stint in MMA as well, where he won the Pancrase Openweight title, before going on to compete in the UFC and PRIDE FC.
What happened when Verhoeven fought Schilt?
Verhoeven met his compatriot, Schilt, in the semi-finals of the Glory Kickboxing Grand Slam tournament in December 2012.
‘The King of Kickboxing’ was just 23 years old and a year off the start of his legendary 12-year reign as Glory heavyweight champion, while Schilt was in the twilight of his career at 39.
Verhoeven got off to a strong start, forcing Schilt onto his heels early, but as the fight wore on, the towering veteran began to find a home for his ram-rodding jab and crushing teep kick.
Schilt dropped Verhoeven midway through the opening stanza with a massive knee, but it was wrongfully ruled a slip.
A big left hook then wobbled Verhoeven in the second round as Schilt poured on the pressure en route to a unanimous decision win.
The defeat to Schilt proved to be the turning point in Verhoeven’s career, with the generational great going on to win 28 of his next 29 fights.
Watch Boxing on DAZN
*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue
Sign up to DAZN to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.
Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate from just £24.99/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.
Alternatively, DAZN Standard is just £15.99/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.
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📚 Información de la Fuente
| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | George Glinski |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-05-29 09:57:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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