Rico Verhoeven believes the boxing world owes him more than just respect after his dramatic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt — and now the Dutch star wants answers from the WBC following the controversial ending that has sparked huge debate across combat sports.
What was supposed to be another routine defence for Usyk turned into one of the most unexpected heavyweight battles in recent memory as Verhoeven pushed the Ukrainian far harder than almost anyone anticipated.
And while Usyk ultimately retained his titles, it is the ending of the fight that continues to dominate conversation.
Verhoeven was stopped in the 11th round after Usyk unloaded during a late surge, but replays appeared to show the bell for the end of the round may already have sounded before the referee intervened.
Now the former long-reigning kickboxing champion says he simply wants accountability.
“[I want] just an apology. What else can we do? I can’t demand anything else,” Verhoeven told BBC Sport.
The 37-year-old revealed his team filed an appeal with the WBC the morning after the fight, although he admits he is realistic about what can actually change.
“Mistakes can be made because we’re all human and that’s OK,” he added. “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.”
Few gave Verhoeven much chance heading into the contest.
Despite dominating kickboxing for more than 4,000 days as world champion, the Dutchman had only fought once professionally in boxing before Saturday night — a victory over a journeyman more than a decade ago in 2014.
Standing across from him was arguably the most accomplished heavyweight on the planet.
Usyk entered the fight unbeaten in 25 professional contests and already cemented as a two-weight undisputed world champion after conquering cruiserweight before taking over the heavyweight division.
Yet for long stretches of the fight, Verhoeven made the supposedly impossible look realistic.
Using his size, movement and composure, he repeatedly frustrated Usyk and stayed level on the scorecards after eight rounds under the open scoring system. Verhoeven himself felt he should have been ahead.
The psychological toll of seeing the scores while entering the championship rounds was significant, especially given the magnitude of the occasion.
Still, the Dutchman believes the fight changed perceptions forever.
“His legacy has been amazing anyway, but I definitely feel we made a crack in the guy that was considered invincible,” Verhoeven said.
There is no guarantee a rematch happens immediately.
Germany’s Agit Kabayel is currently the mandatory WBC challenger and even faced off with Usyk inside the ring following the fight in Cairo.
For Verhoeven, the politics and structure of professional boxing remain unfamiliar territory.
“I’m just coming into the sport of boxing so this world is new for me. I don’t know exactly how things work. I just go with the flow but I know I shocked the world,” Verhoeven added.
What appears certain is that Verhoeven has no interest in quietly fading away after the performance.
Instead, he believes he has arrived as a legitimate force in heavyweight boxing.
And he made that clear with one striking statement.
“Let’s see what pops up next. But I have to be honest, it’s got to be big. I feel like I’m the uncrowned king,” he said.
That confidence is not coming from nowhere either.
Many observers have already described the fight as one of the greatest near-upsets in boxing history, with some suggesting a Verhoeven victory would have surpassed James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocking Mike Tyson in 1990.
Even with the defeat officially on his record, Verhoeven has emerged from the night with his reputation dramatically enhanced.
And if a Usyk rematch cannot be made immediately, the Dutchman already has another blockbuster possibility in mind.
He says he is “open” to facing former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou — another crossover fighter who stunned the boxing world by pushing Tyson Fury close before later being stopped by Anthony Joshua.
Whether it is Usyk, Ngannou, or another huge name entirely, Verhoeven’s message is clear.
He no longer sees himself as a kickboxer trying boxing.
He sees himself as a genuine heavyweight contender who believes the world saw enough in Cairo to crown him something far bigger.
The only thing missing, in his eyes, is official recognition.
Featured image credit: DAZN / X / TalkSport / YouTube (screenshot)
