Home / Sports / Usyk Survives Verhoeven Scare in Thrilling Bout
Usyk Survives Verhoeven Scare in Thrilling Bout
24 May
Summary
- Oleksandr Usyk narrowly escaped a surprising defeat by Rico Verhoeven.
- Promoter Frank Warren insists Usyk must fight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.
- Verhoeven's strong performance in his second professional bout surprised many.
WBC heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk narrowly survived an astonishing challenge from kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven. The fight, held in Giza, saw Verhoeven threaten one of boxing's biggest upsets before the bout was waved off with mere seconds remaining in the eleventh round.
Despite the dramatic conclusion, Usyk's promoter, Frank Warren, is adamant that the Ukrainian champion must now face his mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel. Warren expressed strong opposition to the idea of a rematch with Verhoeven, emphasizing Kabayel's deserving status as the number one contender.
Warren praised Verhoeven's heart, desire, and aggressive skill, admitting he was surprised by the Dutch kickboxer's performance and believed he was ahead on the scorecards. He also commented that the referee could have potentially allowed the fight to continue but respected the official's decision in a captivating contest.
