Sports
Oleksandr Usyk scores controversial, late KO to deny Rico Verhoeven all-time upset
Oleksandr Usyk beat Rico Verhoeven in controversial fashion on Saturday, avoiding one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.
Verhoeven, an icon of the kickboxing world, was boxing professionally for just the second time as he challenged Usyk for the WBC heavyweight title – at the pyramids of Giza, no less.
And Verhoeven was arguably on track for a remarkable result, seemingly ahead on points as the 11th round – the penultimate frame – arrived. But it was at that moment that he walked onto an uppercut in the corner, which dropped him to his knees.
Verhoeven beat the referee’s count and was given extra time to recover as his mouthguard was put back in, but when Usyk swarmed the Dutchman with more offence on the ropes, the official waved off the bout as the bell sounded.
Many will have felt that the referee should have let the round finish, while others will argue that Verhoeven was already given extra time to recover from the knockdown.
In any case, the result saw Usyk, 39, maintain his unbeaten record, retain the WBC belt, and avoid a historic upset in Egypt.
Up to that point, the Ukrainian had not looked his usual inventive, spritely self. However, that could have been down to the fine work of Verhoeven, 37, who did well to fight on the front foot for much of the bout, seemingly win the clinch battles, and land clean to the head and body.
Usyk had grown into the fight somewhat after appearing to lose the first few rounds, but it still seemed like he would need a stoppage in the final two rounds to avoid an embarrassing loss.
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And Usyk secured that stoppage at 2:59 of round 11, per the official result, with Verhoeven gracious in defeat despite the controversial nature of the ending.
“Yeah, of course, I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven said in the ring. “But still, I thought it was a little bit early.
“I thought the referee knows that we’re nearly at the end of the round, so let me go out on my shield or let the bell go. But it’s not up to me, and I was already super thankful for the opportunity.”
Usyk said: “Thank you so much, for me it’s very important, but for me I know right now in Ukraine – my people, my country – are being bombed. My family, my daughter, too, is in a bomb shelter and sent me a message. She said, ‘I know you’ll win.’ I prayed.
“Rico, you’re an amazing fighter, thank you so much. Coach, smart. My team, I love you, you are the best. Katarina, my wife, I love you. You’re my life, you’re my heart.”
The Ring magazine’s Rick Reno then brought Agit Kabayel into the ring, with the German expected to be next for Usyk; Kabayel is the unified champion’s mandatory challenger with the WBC, which granted Usyk a voluntary defence against Verhoeven.
However, Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh told Reno that it was “not the time” to push a fight with Kabayel, suggesting that Verhoeven deserved a rematch with Usyk.
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