Promoter Eddie Hearn has voiced his support for Rico Verhoeven following controversy surrounding a stoppage involving Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn shared his reaction to the disputed ending that has generated debate in the combat sports community.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has publicly backed Rico Verhoeven following a disputed stoppage involving boxing's unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, with the contested finish sparking widespread debate across the combat sports world.
Verhoeven, nicknamed "The King of Kickboxing," holds a professional record of 66 wins and 10 losses and is widely regarded as one of the most dominant figures in heavyweight kickboxing. The 37-year-old Dutchman, who trains out of Superpro Sportcenter, stands six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach — physical tools that have helped him build one of the most decorated careers in the sport's history.
Usyk, on the other side of the controversy, enters the conversation as one of combat sports' most compelling active figures. The 39-year-old Ukrainian southpaw carries a flawless 24-0-0 professional boxing record and boasts a six-foot-three frame with a 78-inch reach. A product of the Ready To Fight camp, "The Cat" has long been recognised for his elite movement and technical precision.
Hearn, one of boxing's most prominent promoters, voiced his support for Verhoeven in the aftermath of the stoppage, weighing in on what has become a contentious talking point among fans and analysts alike. The precise nature of his remarks and the circumstances surrounding the stoppage remain a subject of significant discussion within the community.
Why it matters
- The stoppage controversy places two of combat sports' biggest heavyweight names at the centre of a cross-discipline debate
- Hearn's involvement signals the story has reach beyond the kickboxing world and into mainstream boxing circles
- Verhoeven's standing as the sport's premier heavyweight figure means any controversy involving him carries outsized weight for the division's credibility
