Kickboxer-grenadier from the Netherlands Rico Verhoeven, who lost to Oleksandr Usyk by technical knockout in the 11th round of the fight in Giza (Egypt), intends to protest the result of the fight.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
On Boxing News, the 37-year-old Dutchman said that referee Mark Lyson stopped the fight… after the gong, and he is appealing.
“I specifically reviewed the stoppage of the fight after reading the comments. They really stopped the fight after the gong,” said Rico Verhoeven . “That is, first there was the gong, and then the stoppage. And this means that we have the right to file an appeal. After all, there is no point in such a stoppage. Why stop after the gong (in fact, the referee rushed to stop Verhoeven’s beating a moment before the end of the round or, in the worst case, simultaneously with the gong. — Author )? After the gong, I should have had time to rest.
#UsykRico pic.twitter.com/ruBh59f7b7
ADVERTISEMENT — MalyMMA (@MalekUfcBets) May 23, 2026
I knew everything. I understood everything. I knew that there were still ten seconds left until the bell. I understood that I just had to work out that time on my feet. Raise my arms and block the punches. I think that's what I did. That's why the referee's decision shocked me. You saw that I wasn't shocked. I looked at the referee and couldn't understand why he did that.
The officials should have reacted to this – admitted the mistake, counted the referee's notes or declared the fight a no-go. I think if they had counted the notes, I would have won. His hands were numb. He was the absolute world champion. I haven't seen anyone else do to him what I did. I hope I managed to surprise and shock the boxing world. Because I'm here seriously and for the long haul.”
By the way, Verhoeven was wrong with the judges' notes. According to the results of 10 rounds, Rico really won the fight — 96:94 in his favor according to one referee and a draw 95:95 according to two others. But the 11th three-minute period was clearly not his. So at the time the fight was stopped, Usyk was still ahead, although according to Compubox statistics, the Dutchman landed one more accurate blow than the Ukrainian during the fight (113 against 112). But there was also a knockdown…
ADVERTISING
Video review of the fight Oleksandr Usyk — Rico Verhoeven
We should add that Usyk won his 25th victory in the professional ring (16 of them by knockout) and defended the WBC, WBA and IBF world champion belts (the last two titles, as was previously stated, would not have gone to the Dutchman even if he had won).
Previously, “FACTS” reported that Usyk had found an undefeated opponent for the fight after his fight with a giant kickboxer.
ADVERTISING
Photos from social networks