Commission rejects Verhoeven protest, Usyk win stands

Rico Verhoeven's formal protest over the controversial ending of his heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk has been rejected by the commission, leaving the result unchanged and the former kickboxing champion focused on securing an immediate rematch. The decision was communicated to Verhoeven on June 16, confirming that his appeal filed on May 24 was unsuccessful.

The bout took place on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, stopped Verhoeven in the eleventh round. The stoppage occurred amid confusion, as the bell signaling the end of the round had already sounded before referee Mark Lyson physically waved off the fight. The commission's ruling upheld that the official timekeeper's record supported this sequence and that ringside medical officials found no signs of confusion or disorientation in Verhoeven after the contest. These findings did not warrant overturning the result, leaving Usyk's victory intact.

Verhoeven acknowledged Usyk's late-round success and admitted he was hurt, but he emphasized that the controversy has left the fight without a proper conclusion. In a statement, he said the fans were denied a twelfth round...