Verhoeven reveals appeal against Usyk result dismissed

Rico Verhoeven’s appeal against his loss to Oleksandr Usyk has been rejected, further affirming the result of their heavyweight fight last month. 

The protest was filed after referee Mark Lyson stopped the contest at 2:59 of the 11th round following a knockdown scored by Usyk.

Verhoeven’s team argued that the bell ending the round had already sounded before the referee officially halted the fight and that the bout should have continued into the 12th and final round. 

After reviewing the case, the commission ruled that the circumstances surrounding the stoppage did not justify overturning the result.

In a statement released on Tuesday,  Verhoeven revealed that the commission accepted the bell had sounded before the stoppage was formally signaled. 

Part of the statement he left on Instagram reads: “The ruling confirmed that the bell ending Round 11 had already sounded before the referee physically waved off the fight. The official timekeeper said exactly that. 

“The ringside doctor also confirmed that I showed no signs of confusion or disorientation after the bout. The Commission’s view was that none of those findings changed the outcome.”

The decision brings an end to a dispute that began immediately after the fight on May 23. 

Verhoeven and his team believed there was a legitimate question over how the contest ended, particularly given how competitive the fight had been on the scorecards.

At the time of the stoppage, two judges had the bout level, while the third had Verhoeven narrowly ahead. 

The Dutchman had also enjoyed success during several stages of the fight, making it one of the closest contests of Usyk’s heavyweight career.

With the appeal dismissed, Verhoeven has shifted his attention to securing a rematch. The former Glory heavyweight champion has repeatedly called for a second fight and continues to argue that the ending left unanswered questions.

The ruling preserves Usyk’s victory and his position as a unified heavyweight champion. 

The Ukrainian remains on course for a mandatory title defense, although calls for a Verhoeven rematch are unlikely to disappear after the controversy surrounding the stoppage.