Oleksandr Usyk got the win.
But not everyone agrees with how he got it.
Usyk stopped kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in the final seconds of the 11th round after scoring a knockdown and unleashing a late barrage that forced the referee to wave the fight off with 2:59 of the round elapsed.
That means the stoppage came with one second left before the bell.
And that’s where the controversy lives.
Official Result
Usyk def. Verhoeven
TKO • Round 11 • 2:59 • Heavyweight
Time Remaining
0:01
Before the bell
The Debate
The argument isn’t whether Usyk rallied. He did. The argument is simple: Should a referee stop a competitive heavyweight fight with literally one second remaining?
Because Verhoeven wasn’t some overmatched journeyman getting dismantled for ten rounds. This was a competitive fight. Many viewers - including S³ - believed Verhoeven had built a lead before the dramatic late swing.
So when the referee stepped in with one second left, the reaction was immediate: Why not let the bell ring?
Case FOR the Stoppage
- Usyk had just scored a knockdown
- Momentum had fully shifted
- A dangerous finishing barrage was landing
- Referees protect fighters, not the clock
- One punch in heavyweight can end careers
Case AGAINST the Stoppage
- This was Round 11, not Round 4
- One second remained on the clock
- Fighters can be saved by the bell
- Verhoeven had fought a competitive bout
- Survival instincts were never tested
The Verhoeven Factor
Rico Verhoeven is one of combat sports’ most accomplished kickboxers. But in pro boxing, he was still inexperienced - and that creates another critical layer to this conversation.
Was the referee protecting a hurt fighter? Or was the referee assuming Verhoeven lacked the defensive survival instincts of a seasoned boxer?
Because those are two very different things.
S³ Final Verdict
This wasn’t a robbery. But it was absolutely controversial.
If Verhoeven was completely defenseless, the referee made the right call. If he was hurt - but still upright, responsive, and one second away from safety - then fans have every right to question it.
S³ Take
Usyk earned the comeback. But the timing of the stoppage will be debated long after the final bell that never came.
