Usyk vs. Verhoeven: Fighter Shocked by Controversial Stoppage

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk secured a victory over kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, stopping him by TKO in the 11th round of their bout in Giza. Verhoeven, the long-reigning Glory heavyweight champion, proved a challenging opponent for the undefeated Usyk.

In the closing moments of the 11th round, Usyk knocked Verhoeven down. Although Verhoeven managed to beat the count, the referee intervened and stopped the fight just seconds before the bell, a decision that left the Dutch fighter stunned. Verhoeven recounted his experience, stating he got up after the knockdown and prepared to continue, expecting to reach the end of the round.

"The referee stepped in and I thought, 'Great, the round is over,' and he tells me, 'That's it, the fight is over.' I asked him, 'What do you mean it's over? Why? What's happening?' I was completely shocked. We heard the gong before he jumped in," Verhoeven said during an appearance with Ariel Helwani.

Scorecards at the time of the stoppage showed a mixed picture. Two judges had the fight scored as a draw after ten rounds, while a third judge favored Verhoeven by one round. Had the fight continued, the 11th round was projected to be scored 10-8 for Usyk, putting Verhoeven at a two-point deficit on two cards and a one-point deficit on the third, requiring a knockout to win.

Verhoeven expressed his desire for an apology from the officials, stating, "Rico, we're sorry. It should have ended differently." He acknowledged the opportunity and the significance of cross-sport events, citing the trend started by Mayweather vs. McGregor and continuing with Ngannou vs. Fury and Paul vs. Joshua, which he believes draws attention to all combat sports.