After watching back the controversial ending to his fight with Oleksandr Usyk, Rico Verhoeven wants some big questions answered.
Few gave the Dutchman a realistic chance heading into the fight beneath the Pyramids of Giza, given the fact that the kickboxing great had entered the bout with just one previous professional boxing appearance and was facing a pound-for-pound great in Usyk.
Instead, the 37-year-old challenger produced a performance that troubled the unified champion throughout, using relentless pressure and awkward timing to build what many viewers believed was a lead on the scorecards.
The turning point came in the eleventh round, when Usyk landed a sharp uppercut that sent Verhoeven through the ropes. Though visibly hurt, ‘The King of Kickboxing’ returned to his feet and continued fighting before referee Mark Lyson waved the contest off during a barrage on the ropes with just, according to the official result, one second remaining in the round.
Verhoeven’s camp has since questioned both the timing and nature of the stoppage, insisting the challenger should have been allowed to survive the final seconds and come out for the twelfth round.
Speaking to Boxing News, he said that an appeal is now likely.
“To be completely honest, I just saw the end, because of all the comments I was reading. They stopped the fight after the bell. So the bell went, then they stopped the fight. I think we might just go and appeal it, because this doesn’t make any sense, right? If the bell goes and then stop the fight, why? Then it’s my time to rest.”
Indeed, many videos appear to show the final call from referee Mark Lyson coming after the bell, though further clarity is required, particularly given that the clock was stopped briefly following the knockdown for Verhoeven’s mouthpiece to be reinserted.
Asked how hurt he was, the former undisputed kickboxing champion – who was up on one card and level on the other two at the time of the stoppage – said he felt good enough to carry on.
“Yeah, I got the eight-count. It was a good eight-count. It was needed. But [once I was up] I heard the [clapper], so I was like ‘f**k, we got ten seconds, keep on the move, hands up and catch the shots.’ And I feel like that’s what I was doing. That’s why, when the referee came in, I wasn’t dazzled or whatever. I was looking at the referee. Why did you stop it? We’re almost there.
“It didn’t make any sense to me, and now looking back at it, the bell went. That’s something he should be aware of. Of course, mistakes can be made, but looking back at it, the referee needs to admit his mistake. It’s either a no contest or we go to the scorecards, and if we do that, I was ahead.”
Finally, Verhoeven reflected on the fight as a whole and how it feels to have silenced a significant number of doubters.
“I had fun. I had so much fun. It was incredible to be a part of history … We had an amazing gameplan and it worked. I’m super proud, super happy with it. Of course I’m going to look back at it and think I could have done things a little better. But he had both hands full, and he’s been the undisputed champion. I didn’t see any boxer do that to him till tonight. So I’m super proud of myself, but also bittersweet.”
Though Usyk has a WBC mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel, waiting, many are now calling for a rematch, regardless of how Verhoeven’s appeal plays out.
