Rico Verhoeven was proven right: the bell had already sounded before the end of the eleventh round of his boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk. But the defeat remains. That is the conclusion of the investigation committee after the much-discussed match on May 24. The 37-year-old Brabander calls for a rematch. “Let’s finish the story and give the fans that immediate rematch.”
Verhoeven impressed on May 24 during his boxing debut against the undefeated world champion. A much-discussed match that ended after eleven rounds when the referee intervened after a series of blows from Usyk. However, he did so after the bell sounded, the Verhoeven camp immediately indicated.
Verhoeven also felt well enough to continue. A protest was lodged with the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission. The protest was rejected, despite the fact that the match was stopped too quickly after an investigation.
If it were up to Verhoeven, the fight for the Egyptian pyramids would continue. “This was never about taking anything from Oleksandr,” he wrote on Instagram. “He is one of the greatest fighters of this generation and I have nothing but respect for what he has achieved. What remains with me is that after eleven unforgettable rounds on one of the biggest and most epic stages in the world, the story stopped before it reached its conclusion.”
Verhoeven hopes for a new chance against the Ukrainian. “The statement answers the questions I had, but there is another question in the air. One that has been on so many people’s minds since that night, how should this story have ended? I am ready.”