The question then is what options does the wronged fighter, Rico Verhoeven, have to appeal the decision of the referee? Under the rules of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the sanctioning body for this boxing match, the Council has the discretion to correct serious injustices wronged fighters have experienced in major world title bouts. Further, there is a precedent for this. In 2022, the WBC officially awarded Jeff Fenech the world super-featherweight championship belt 30 years after his controversial loss in 1991 to Azumah Nelson.
Of course, it would be foolish to suggest that Verhoeven should have to wait 30 years to have his redress and be crowned World Heavyweight Champion. It is therefore arguable that the WBC Board of Governors should convene a Special Meeting now to discuss the matter of the Usyk v Verhoeven world title fight due to the uproar the result has caused among commentators, fans, and even fighters. They are all united that this fight was stopped too soon.
It is notable that the current WBC World Welterweight Champion, Ryan Garcia, who was at ringside, says that the stoppage happened after the 11th Round was over. Others have taken to YouTube saying the same thing, with one angry fan even suggesting that the Usyk v Verhoeven fight was rigged.
Rightly or wrongly, there is a perception that it would be viewed as unacceptable for a professional kickboxer with only one professional fight as a heavyweight boxer, to beat the current World Heavyweight Boxing Champion with much more experience in heavyweight boxing. In short, boxing would be seen in the eyes of many as a joke if Verhoeven were allowed to beat Usyk.
But facts are facts. The three judges’ scorecards were 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in favor of Rico Verhoeven after the 10th Round. The 11th Round does not count, as it was not completed properly, with the referee wrongly stopping the bout after the bell.
Politics is rife in every workplace. It would be a pity if politics were seen to be present in professional boxing as well. To counter this impression, the WBC has to do the right thing. A No Contest verdict for this fight from them will not do, as it will leave Oleksandr Usyk as the WBC Champion. Something more radical has to be done.
The WBC has to convince the outside world that anyone can become World Heavyweight Champion if they have the ability to do so. The WBC sanctioned this boxing match.
Verhoeven was winning it on points. Verhoeven still had his wits about him at the end of the 11th Round. The fight was wrongly stopped. The conclusion is therefore simple, and it will mark a progressive step for professional boxing.
The new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion is Rico Verhoeven. But it sounds better if Michael Buffer were allowed to make this announcement.
Romer Cherubim
Freelance journalist
UK
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