After ten rounds, two judges had the fight tied at 95-95, while the third scored it 96-94 for Verhoeven. With the fight so close and the ending causing controversy, many fans believe a rematch could be possible.
The fight itself was not considered entertaining by many as Verhoeven was constantly getting pinned throughout the match. Referee Mark Lyson issued very few warnings for the hold, despite long stretches where the action was tied up. Some referees may have deducted points or even considered a disqualification if the hit continued after repeated warnings.
Still, the strategy worked for Verhoeven because it slowed Usyk down and prevented him from fighting at the pace fans are used to seeing.
Personally, I would prefer not to see a rematch as the fight has been without action for long periods of time, even if the result remains controversial.
Looking at the heavyweight division, there are several possible options for Usyk, who improved to 25-0 with 16 knockouts.
One possibility is a rematch with newly crowned WBO heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, who stopped Fabio Wardley to win the title earlier this month. Usyk previously stopped Dubois in July 2025, though Dubois and Wardley are rumored to be discussing a rematch.
The WBO’s #1 contender is Moses Itauma, the undefeated southpaw heavyweight based in the UK. A fight between Usyk and Itauma will feature two left-handed fighters, which stylistically can create sometimes awkward matchups.
The IBF title is currently vacant. On Saturday’s undercard in Egypt, Frank Sanchez strengthened his position by defeating Richard Torrez Jr. to stop in two rounds. Sanchez could enter the discussion if the IBF moves forward with his title situation.
The WBC interim champion is Agit Kabayel, who remains undefeated after recent wins that have pushed him near the top of the heavyweight division. Kabayel has steadily built momentum and now appears to be in a strong position for a title shot.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury also remains highly ranked by the WBC despite losing two decisions to Usyk in 2024. Fury recently bounced back with a stoppage win over Arslanbek Makhmudov and continues to be linked to big fights.
The WBA also continues to rank former cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev highly. Gassiev lost to Usyk years ago in the World Boxing Super Series final, but remains active in the division.
If I had to guess, I’d say Kabayel is the most likely next opponent for the 39-year-old Usyk. His position as WBC interim champion, along with recent comments from people surrounding the event in Egypt, seems to make him the frontrunner for the event.
