Rico Verhoeven Seeks Rematch with Oleksandr Usyk After Controversial Stoppage

AI Summary

Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven is seeking a rematch with unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk after a controversial stoppage in their WBC title bout. Verhoeven feels he could have continued fighting and is seeking an apology.

The Controversial Stoppage

Rico Verhoeven, the Dutch former kickboxer who has switched to boxing, wants an apology as well as a rematch, after being stopped one second before the end of the penultimate round in a WBC title bout with unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk last Saturday.

The Event Details

The stoppage was controversial, with Verhoeven feeling he could have continued and some replays suggesting the bell may have rung before the referee signalled the end of the fight — only Verhoeven’s second since switching to boxing — at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

The Data Analysis

Scorecards published by The Ring magazine afterwards showed two of the three judges had the fight tied 95-95 going into the 11th of 12 rounds and the other had Verhoeven ahead 96-94.

The Impact Analysis

“[I want] just an apology. What else can we do? I can’t demand anything else,” Verhoeven told the BBC on Thursday, adding that his team had lodged an appeal with the WBC.

The Prediction

Germany’s Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s mandatory challenger and Usyk could have to fight him first before any rematch with Verhoeven. “Let’s see what pops up next,” said Verhoeven. “But I have to be honest, it’s got to be big. I feel like I’m the uncrowned king.”