It's not often we get to see matchups between two wrestlers ranked #1 at their respective weight classes, but that's exactly what we'll have on November 14 when Alan Vera, the top man at 87kg, bumps up to take on G'angelo Hancock, the top man at 97kg. Their #1 rankings plus each man's high-powered offense makes this the biggest US Greco-Roman match of the year.

Watch FloWrestling: Burroughs vs Zahid LIVE on FloWrestling

Saturday, November 14, 2020

How Good is G'angelo Hancock?

It's no secret that the United States hasn't had the results it has wanted in international Greco-Roman competition with Adam Coon bringing in the only world medal in this quad. G'angelo Hancock has yet to win his first senior-level world medal, but he has a pretty ridiculous list of consistent international results.

In the 15 months before the world shut down due to COVID-19, Hancock competed in 12 international tournaments and brought home a medal in all but one. He had titles in 2019 at the Dave Schultz, Grand Prix of Hungary, and Bill Farrell and in 2020 at the Pan Am Championships. He also qualified the US for the Olympics at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier.

Keep in mind also that Hancock is still very young, making his success that much more impressive. In 2017 when Hancock was still Junior eligible, he represented the US at the Junior, U23, and Senior World Championships in the same year!

Back in 2018, Hancock pinned three-time World Champion and 2016 Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan at the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in Poland proving that he's capable of beating anyone in the world.

Not only is Hancock one of the most accomplished and consistent wrestlers in the US, he's also one of the most exciting to watch. On a recent episode of The Bader Show, Hancock explained that his big-move-or-bust approach comes from leaning body-locks and reverse lifts with TC Dantzler before he learned any other Greco-Roman techniques.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Hancock is fun to watch, he's consistently excellent, and he's supremely confident heading into his match. So why won't this just be a blowout in favor of Hancock?

Who Is Alan Vera?

US Greco Roman fans are already well aware of Alan Vera, but the casual Greco observer might not be as familiar, especially since Vera only recently competed in his first US Senior Nationals. Despite his new presence as a threat to represent Team USA, he's already proven himself as the most formidable 87kg wrestler in the country.

Before Vera donned the Stars and Stripes, he represented Cuba internationally. That was before he defected in 2016 after winning a title at the Pan Am Championships.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Since 2016, Vera has been training in the United States and working toward changing his country affiliation so that he can represent the US at the World Championships or Olympic Games. He's closer than ever to accomplishing that goal as he outlined in a recent interview with Timmy Hands of 5 Point Move.

Vera hasn't been sitting on his hands while waiting for his paperwork. Far from it. In 2019 and 2020, Vera has two wins over Joe Rau, the former #1 at 87kg in the US and the man who qualified the weight for the United States at the Pan Am Olympic Games Qualifier. Vera's most recent win over Rau came at the 2020 Senior Nationals in a one-sided affair.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Vera's match with G'angelo Hancock will be his biggest challenge since immigrating to the United States, and it's probably the biggest domestic Greco matchup anyone could make. Hancock's skill and size present serious problems for the international field at 97kg, so Vera will have his work cut out for him.

Despite those obstacles, Vera is up for the challenge and even agreed to weigh in at 103kg, giving Hancock six extra kilos in addition to the 10 kilo gap that already exists between the two. The power and point potential in this November 14 matchup makes this the most exciting US Greco match of the year.