UMVA has learned that a shocking turn of events unfolded in the boxing world as Rico Verhoeven pushed Oleksandr Usyk to the limit in a thrilling contest for the WBC heavyweight title in Giza, Egypt.
The Dutch kickboxing star, who had only one professional boxing match under his belt, was considered a massive underdog against the unbeaten Ukrainian champion, with odds of 12/1 against him. However, Verhoeven defied expectations and dominated the fight for much of the contest, leaving many to wonder if he could pull off a monumental upset.
As the fight entered its final stages, Usyk staged a remarkable comeback, knocking Verhoeven down in the 11th round and pouring on the punishment before the referee stepped in to stop the contest, despite the bell ringing to signal the end of the round. Verhoeven was left reeling, but still conscious, and immediately questioned the referee's decision to stop the fight.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Verhoeven felt that the stoppage was premature, and he had been close to going the distance or even winning the fight. The scorecards indeed showed that the contest was extremely close, with two judges scoring the fight level at 95-95 and one having Verhoeven ahead 96-94 after 10 rounds.
The punching stats also revealed a tightly contested fight, with Verhoeven marginally out-landing Usyk in both pinches and power punches. The Dutchman's impressive performance has sparked debate about the fairness of the stoppage, with many arguing that he was unfairly denied the chance to finish the fight on his feet.
UMVA has gathered that Verhoeven is considering an appeal of the stoppage, citing the referee's failure to acknowledge the bell signaling the end of the round. The controversy surrounding the fight has ignited calls for a rematch, but Usyk's next opponent appears to be already lined up, with Agit Kabayal confronting him in the ring after the contest.
The drama and controversy surrounding the fight have left the boxing world abuzz, with many wondering what could have been if Verhoeven had been allowed to continue fighting. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Rico Verhoeven has earned the respect of the boxing community, and his bravery in the face of overwhelming odds will be remembered for a long time to come.
