Rico Verhoeven, despite a display of class, expressed clear disappointment following his recent boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk.
The event, held near the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, saw Verhoeven challenge WBC heavyweight champion Usyk in only his second professional boxing bout. Entering the fight as a significant underdog, the Dutch kickboxing star surprised many by holding his own against the undefeated Ukrainian.
Verhoeven utilized his size, pressure, and effective body work to disrupt Usyk’s rhythm in the early rounds. He managed to keep pace and even found success in close exchanges. By the eighth round, the open scoring indicated a level fight, with all three judges scoring it 76-76.
The turning point came in the eleventh round when Usyk landed an uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. Verhoeven managed to beat the count and appeared to be recovering, but with only a second remaining before the bell, the referee, Mark Lyson, stopped the fight at 2:59 of the round, awarding Usyk a TKO victory. This abrupt decision sparked immediate controversy, with Verhoeven, his team, and many in the combat sports community feeling that he was unfairly prevented from surviving the round.
In his post-fight interview, Rico Verhoeven candidly addressed the stoppage. While acknowledging that the decision was not his to make, he felt it was premature. Verhoeven stated that he believed the referee should have allowed him to either finish the round or “go out on his shield,” especially with the round nearing its end.
The GLORY Kickboxing legend also expressed pride in his performance, believing it would make a significant impression on the boxing world. He highlighted how close the fight was and felt he was on relatively equal footing with Usyk. Verhoeven concluded by expressing his hope that the boxing community would now embrace him as a boxer.
Rico Verhoeven on the Stoppage:
“Yeah, of course I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end, it’s not up to me. Still, I found it a little bit early. I believe that the referee knows that we’re almost at the end of the round. Let me go out on my shield or let the bell go. That’s what I thought, but like I said, it’s not up to me.”
“It was so close. Let me go out on my shield or go into the 12th. I was close. We were pretty equal on the score cards, or at least that’s what I felt like. But I’m very proud, very thankful. … I’m super proud with my performance. The boxing world will hopefully now embrace me as a boxer, as well.”
English Translation:
Rico Verhoeven, while maintaining his composure, expressed evident disappointment following his recent boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk. The fight, which took place near the Pyramids of Giza, saw Verhoeven challenge WBC heavyweight champion Usyk in just his second professional boxing bout. Despite being a considerable underdog, the Dutch kickboxing star exceeded expectations, holding his own against the undefeated Ukrainian.
Verhoeven effectively used his size, pressure, and body work to disrupt Usyk’s rhythm throughout the early rounds, matching the champion’s pace and finding success in close exchanges. By the eighth round, the fight was scored level at 76-76 by all three judges.
The pivotal moment occurred late in the eleventh round when Usyk landed an uppercut, sending Verhoeven to the canvas. Although Verhoeven beat the count and seemed to be recovering, the referee stopped the contest at 2:59 of the round, just one second before the bell, awarding Usyk a TKO victory. This premature stoppage generated significant controversy, with Verhoeven, his team, and many observers believing he was denied a fair opportunity to continue or finish the round.
In the post-fight interview, Rico Verhoeven stated that he believed the stoppage was too early. He expressed that he would have preferred to be allowed to “go out on his shield” or at least survive until the end of the round. The GLORY Kickboxing legend also conveyed his pride in his performance, asserting that it would command respect within the boxing community and hopefully lead to wider acceptance of him as a boxer.
Rico Verhoeven’s Statement on the Stoppage:
“Yes, of course, I felt it was an early stoppage, but ultimately, the decision isn’t mine. Still, I thought it was a bit premature. I believe the referee knew we were close to the end of the round. I wish they had let me go out on my shield or wait for the bell. That’s how I saw it, but as I said, it’s not my call.”
“It was very close. Let me go out fighting or go into the 12th round. I was close. We were pretty much even on the scorecards, or at least that’s how I felt. But I am very proud and very grateful. I am extremely proud of my performance. Hopefully, the boxing world will now embrace me as a boxer as well.”