Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight world titles with a controversial knockout victory over Rico Verhoeven. The Ukrainian emerged victorious with one second remaining in the 11th round at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Verhoeven, who had only competed once previously in boxing, proved a tough opponent. The victory extends Usyk’s undefeated record to 25 wins.
Controversial End to Usyk-Verhoeven
Usyk, aged 39, was tested by Verhoeven, but ultimately secured the win. There is a growing sense that Usyk is no longer driven by collecting titles, with only a handful of fights left before retirement. The scorecards at the time of the stoppage have not been released.
Who’s Next for Usyk?
Numerous challengers are queuing up for a shot at Usyk’s belts, which include the WBA ‘super’, WBC and IBF titles. Mandatory challengers are enforced on a rotating basis between sanctioning bodies. WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel is next in line and is viewed as the most deserving contender yet to receive his opportunity.
The unbeaten German has built a strong record, stopping Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang. However, there has been little indication that Usyk is interested in the fight. Sanchez earned a stunning knockout win against Richard Torrez Jr on the undercard in Giza to become the leading contender for Usyk’s IBF belt.
The IBF is expected to order a mandatory title defence within six months once WBC obligations are clarified. Murat Gassiev, a former cruiserweight rival beaten by Usyk in 2018, holds the WBA ‘regular’ title and is also high in the sanctioning queue.
Verhoeven’s Future After Loss
Verhoeven emerged from the loss with a huge amount of credit. The kickboxing superstar, who reigned as the Glory heavyweight world champion for 12 years, demonstrated that he has the tools to compete with boxing’s elite. Aged 37, time is not on Verhoeven’s side, but further opportunities are expected. A rematch with Usyk has been touted, although it is unlikely to be next for Verhoeven, so options elsewhere will need to be explored.
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