'OLEKSANDR USYK SHOULD RETIRE!' - ex-manager ALEX KRASSYUK says forget KABAYEL & Verhoeven 2

Alex Krassyuk on Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven (Seconds Out)

Alex Krassyuk (former manager of Oleksandr Usyk) speaks with Danny Flexen of Seconds Out about Krassyuk’s current boxing work and—most extensively—Usyk’s recent heavyweight title defense against Rico Verhoeven.

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Krassyuk’s Current Role in Boxing

• Krassyuk says boxing remains central to his life.
• He is involved with multiple fighters, including work with Dennis Binic, alongside George Warren (Queensberry).
• He also references additional prospects coming through.

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Prediction and Expectations for Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven

• Krassyuk says he did not expect an easy, dominant win for Usyk.
• He argues the matchup was more difficult because Verhoeven is a proven elite kickboxer, with:
  • strong “masculine” physical durability and experience under heavy impact,
  • a body trained for kicks plus knees/elbows,
  • a record of dominance in kickboxing.
• Krassyuk emphasizes that despite the unusual crossover, Verhoeven is at a similar elite level to Usyk—just in a different combat-sport context.

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How the Fight Played Out (Key Turning Point and Judges)

• Krassyuk says he was surprised by Verhoeven’s level of dominance.
• He claims Usyk initially looked “lost” because his camp lacked preparation material and scouting specifically suited to Verhoeven (which Krassyuk describes as a “blank sheet”).
• He says Usyk found the “key” late—in the 11th round—after which the fight’s momentum (and results) changed.

Rounds, Scoring, and the “Three Rounds” Claim

• Krassyuk says he had Usyk winning only three rounds on his own scorecards at the end of the fight.
• He argues that multiple observers—including a Zone pundit (as referenced by Krassyuk)—also had similar round counts, reflecting a broader sense that Verhoeven was winning on points.
• He acknowledges that judges’ scoring appeared questionable from his perspective.
• He adds that some judges still had Usyk in front on at least one scorecard.

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The Stoppage and the End-of-Round Bell

• Krassyuk discusses the stoppage and says his first opinion was that the referee did not hear the bell to end round 11.
• He explains that the referee was intensely focused on the action and suggests crowd noise may have contributed to the mistake.
• He argues the referee potentially should have allowed Rico an extra minute to recover and for the corner to decide.

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Fairness of the Stoppage

• Krassyuk does not fully blame the referee, saying mistakes can happen “for the reason.”
• He notes that Usyk had already identified a solution.
• He argues that in round 12, Rico would have had even less chance anyway.

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Rematch vs. Mandatory Challenger (Cabayel)

• Krassyuk says he does not believe Usyk should ignore his situation.
• However, he also doesn’t call for accommodating the mandatory challenger in place of a rematch.
• Instead, he contrasts a different approach: Usyk should focus on life outside boxing—family, business, and retirement—rather than more fights.

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Why Krassyuk Says Usyk Should Retire

• Krassyuk argues retirement should be considered due to time and age, describing the “strongest power in the material world” as time.
• He suggests Usyk may find it harder to maintain the same physiological condition despite similar training volume, citing:
  • a metabolism shift (Krassyuk claims Usyk finished about 5 kilos heavier than usual),
  • the difficulty of sustaining a long career starting from age 15.
• He compares Usyk’s situation to Vladimir Klitschko, suggesting Klitschko stays sharp partly because he’s not in constant camp cycles, whereas Usyk has been fighting continuously.

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Direct Message to Usyk

• Krassyuk tells Usyk: “Pray and find the answer in your soul”, implying the “right answer” comes from sincerity and personal reflection.
• He reiterates that his opinion is that Usyk should retire.
• He adds: Usyk can still win fights, but—per Krassyuk—he doesn’t “need it.”

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Presenters / Sources

• Danny Flexen (Seconds Out)
• Alex Krassyuk (former manager of Oleksandr Usyk)