Full Breakdown
Rico Verhoeven Seeks Apology and Rematch After Controversial Stoppage in Usyk Fight
5/28/2026, 9:28:33 PM
Contested Stoppage at the Pyramids of Giza
On Saturday, a WBC heavyweight title bout between unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and Dutch challenger Rico Verhoeven took place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The referee halted the contest one second before the end of the 11th round after Verhoeven was dropped. Video replays released after the fight suggest the round-ending bell may have already sounded before the stoppage was signalled, fueling debate over whether the fight was prematurely ended.
From Kickboxing to Boxing: Verhoeven’s Rapid Rise
Verhoeven, a former kickboxing world champion, transitioned to professional boxing in 2024. The Giza encounter marked only his second loss in the sport, underscoring his swift ascent from kickboxing to competing for a heavyweight world title.
Key Participants
- Rico Verhoeven – Dutch former kickboxer, now professional boxer, challenger.
- Oleksandr Usyk – Ukrainian unified heavyweight champion, defending titleholder.
- World Boxing Council (WBC) – Governing body that sanctioned the bout and received Verhoeven’s appeal.
- Agit Kabayel – German boxer, designated WBC mandatory challenger who could be scheduled before any rematch.
Scorecards and Fight Dynamics
The Ring magazine published the judges’ scorecards after the stoppage: two judges recorded a 95-95 tie, while the third had Verhoeven ahead 96-94. Throughout the fight, Verhoeven pressured Usyk for extended periods and appeared close to delivering a major upset before the late-round knockdown.
Official Appeal and Statements
Verhoeven’s camp filed an appeal with the WBC the morning after the fight, requesting a review of the stoppage. In a BBC interview, Verhoeven emphasized his desire for an apology and a rematch, noting that “mistakes can be made because we’re all human.” No official response from the WBC or Usyk’s team has been reported in the available sources.
Criticism and Contested Timing
Observers described the stoppage as controversial. Replays indicating that the bell may have rung prior to the referee’s intervention have led some commentators to label the decision premature, arguing that the bout could have continued to its scheduled conclusion.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The sources do not provide a definitive statement from the referee, the WBC, or Usyk regarding the exact moment the bell sounded relative to the stoppage. Consequently, the precise cause of the early termination remains unverified, and the appeal’s outcome is pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “[I want] just an apology. What else can we do? I can't demand anything else,” — Rico Verhoeven, Boxer
- “Mistakes can be made because we’re all human and that’s OK.” — Rico Verhoeven, Boxer
- “Mistakes can be made because we’re all human and that’s OK. But all I’m looking for actually is: ‘Yeah, sorry guys, this could have gone differently — this is something we have to look at and hopefully this doesn’t happen in the future.’ That’s it and then let’s continue from there and get to the rematch.” — Rico Verhoeven, Boxer
- “Let’s see what pops up next,” — Rico Verhoeven, Boxer
- “But I have to be honest, it’s got to be big. I feel like I’m the uncrowned king.” — Rico Verhoeven, Boxer
Future Prospects
The WBC’s mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel, may be scheduled before any rematch between Usyk and Verhoeven. Verhoeven has indicated that a subsequent bout would need to be “big,” signaling his intention to pursue a second encounter pending the appeal’s resolution.