Rico Verhoeven demands Usyk reunion after commission rejects protest over controversial strike

In his statement, Verhoeven revealed that his team filed a formal protest on May 24 because they believe there were legitimate questions about the referee’s handling of the finish.

“The ruling confirmed that the bell that ends round 11 had already rung before the referee physically waved off the fight,” said Verhoeven. “The doctor also confirmed that I showed no signs of confusion or disorientation after the fight.”

Despite those findings, the commission determined that the evidence did not warrant overturning the result, leaving Usyk’s 11th-round victory intact.

Rather than continue a legal battle, Verhoeven is now set on getting a second fight.

“For me, the conclusion is actually very simple. Let’s finish the story and give the fans that immediate rematch,” Verhoeven said.

The end of the fight has remained a talking point since May. The bell rang when Usyk attacked late in Round 11, with referee Michael Griffin stepping in moments later to stop the bout. The unusual sequence led to debate over whether the round had officially ended before the strike was signaled.

Usyk retained the WBC heavyweight title with the win, breaking his record and extending his undefeated run in professional boxing. The result was controversial enough that the official scorecards became a big part of the post-fight discussion, with one judge having Verhoeven leading 96-94 and the other two scoring the fight even at 95-95 through 10 rounds.

A rematch is far from guaranteed. Mandatory challengers remain in line, with Agit Kabayel among the leading contenders waiting for a title opportunity. However, Verhoeven’s latest statement makes it clear that he believes there are still unfinished business between him and Usyk.