Rico Verhoeven, the Dutch former kickboxer who has transitioned to professional boxing, is demanding both an apology and a rematch following a contentious stoppage in his WBC title bout against unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. The fight, held last Saturday at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, was halted with just one second remaining in the 11th round, sparking widespread debate.
Controversial Ending Sparks Outrage
The stoppage occurred when referee intervened, believing Verhoeven could no longer defend himself. However, replays suggest that the bell may have rung before the referee signaled the end of the fight. Verhoeven, who was competing in only his second professional boxing match after a successful kickboxing career, insists he was capable of continuing.
Scorecards published by The Ring magazine revealed that two judges had the fight tied 95-95 entering the 11th round, while the third judge had Verhoeven ahead 96-94. This indicates a closely contested bout that could have swung either way.
Verhoeven's Reaction and Appeal
In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Verhoeven expressed his desire for a simple apology. "I want just an apology. What else can we do? I can't demand anything else," he stated. "Mistakes can be made because we're all human and that's OK. But all I'm looking for actually is: 'Yeah, sorry guys, this could have gone differently – this is something we have to look at and hopefully this doesn't happen in the future.' That's it and then let's continue from there and get to the rematch."
Verhoeven confirmed that his team has lodged an official appeal with the World Boxing Council (WBC), seeking acknowledgment of the error and a path to a rematch.
Future Prospects
The path to a rematch is complicated by the fact that Germany's Agit Kabayel is the WBC's mandatory challenger. Usyk may be required to face Kabayel first before any potential second fight with Verhoeven. Nevertheless, Verhoeven remains optimistic. "Let's see what pops up next," he said. "But I have to be honest, it's got to be big. I feel like I'm the uncrowned king."
Verhoeven's performance has earned him respect in the boxing community, and many believe he proved he belongs at the highest level. The controversy has only fueled interest in a potential rematch, which would undoubtedly be a major draw for the sport.
As the WBC reviews the appeal, fans and analysts alike await further developments. For now, Verhoeven stands firm in his belief that he was denied a fair chance to become champion.
