Rico Verhoeven described the controversial finish to his fight with Oleksandr Usyk, saying he kept his hands up and was waiting for the bell when the referee jumped in and stopped it. Verhoeven questioned what was happening and expressed confusion over the decision to end the bout.
Rico Verhoeven has spoken out about the disputed stoppage in his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, maintaining that he was composed and waiting for the bell when the referee intervened to end the contest.
Verhoeven, known as "The King of Kickboxing," holds a professional record of 66 wins and 10 losses and stands six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach. The 37-year-old Dutch fighter competes out of Superpro Sportcenter and has long been regarded as one of the premier heavyweights in combat sports. In addressing the finish, he stated that his hands were up and that he was in a defensive posture, expressing clear confusion over why the referee chose that moment to step in.
Usyk, the 39-year-old Ukrainian southpaw known as "The Cat," carries a perfect professional boxing record of 24 wins and no losses. Standing six-foot-three with a reach of 78 inches, he trains out of the Ready To Fight camp and has built his career on technical precision and relentless pressure. His unbeaten record reflects a consistent ability to impose his will across multiple weight classes.
Why it matters
- A controversial stoppage in a fight of this profile raises serious questions about officiating standards at the highest level of combat sports.
- Verhoeven's version of events — that he was upright, covered, and awaiting the bell — directly challenges the referee's judgment and could prompt further scrutiny of the decision.
- The outcome affects the legacies of both men, given Usyk's unblemished record and Verhoeven's standing as a long-reigning kickboxing champion crossing into a high-stakes crossover bout.
- Any formal review or response from sanctioning bodies would carry significant weight given the stature of both athletes involved.
