Usyk Jokes He Carried Verhoeven Before 11th-Round Stoppage as Appeal and Rematch Talk Grow
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 24
Usyk Jokes He Carried Verhoeven Before 11th-Round Stoppage as Appeal and Rematch Talk Grow
5 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 24
Oleksandr Usyk told fans on social media he "just didn’t want you to be bored," joking after his 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven in their WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt.
That remark sharpened scrutiny of a bout many viewers already found unexpectedly competitive, with some questioning how a kickboxing convert pushed one of boxing’s top heavyweights before Usyk surged late.
Round 11 changed the fight quickly, but the stoppage itself was controversial enough that Verhoeven is considering an official appeal.
Rematch speculation is already building around the money-spinning matchup, though promoter Frank Warren has said it should not jump ahead of Usyk’s WBC mandatory defense against Agit Kabayel.
Usyk’s joke may help sell a second fight, but it also feeds wider skepticism about boxing’s balance between sporting merit and business.
Was Usyk's tough fight a sign of his decline or a masterclass in building a lucrative rematch?
Is Usyk's controversial win proof that money now matters more than legacy in heavyweight boxing?
With a promoter now controlling boxing's biggest fights, are sanctioning body rules becoming completely irrelevant?