(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Rico Verhoeven Calls for Rematch After Appeal to Overturn Oleksandr Usyk Result Is Rejected
Heavyweight kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven has issued a statement after his formal appeal to overturn his TKO loss to Oleksandr Usyk was rejected by the relevant commission.
Verhoeven’s team had argued that the stoppage during their bout on May 23 came after the bell and that he was not in serious distress at the time of the referee’s decision.
However, the commission upheld the original result, confirming that the official timekeeper’s records and ringside assessments supported the outcome.
Verhoeven Responds on Social Media
In a statement shared on Instagram, Verhoeven said the decision had been reviewed carefully but ultimately did not change the fight result.
He emphasized that his appeal was not intended to diminish Usyk’s achievement, praising the heavyweight champion as one of the best fighters of his generation.
“Fans Deserved a Clear Ending”
Verhoeven said the fight ended in a way that left unanswered questions, arguing that the bout should have reached its natural conclusion.
He stated that both fighters and fans deserved the opportunity to see how the contest would have finished, adding that the stoppage prevented a decisive ending in the ring.
Calls for Immediate Rematch
The kickboxing champion concluded his statement by calling for an immediate rematch with Usyk, saying the controversy around the stoppage has left demand for a second meeting.
He added that while the ruling addressed the official decision, it did not resolve the broader debate surrounding the fight’s ending.
