Saturday’s showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven was unexpectedly close and controversial, with a questionable stoppage potentially saving the blushes of the reigning heavyweight world champion.
The unconventional style of Verhoeven caused issues for Usyk, who seemed uncharacteristically flat from the get-go and looked to be at risk of suffering one of the most shocking defeats in the history of the sport.
Heading into round 11, Verhoeven was up on one scorecard, whilst the other two judges had it level, before Usyk scored the fight’s sole knockdown via uppercut. Then, after the Dutchman returned to his feet and had his mouthguard put back in by his team, the undefeated unified champion applied the pressure. Referee Mark Lyson intervened to award him the technical knockout win, but did so after the bell had gone to signify the end of the round.
Respected trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas is one man to come out in favour of Lyson, explaining that his job is not to keep an eye on the clock and that he had likely already made the decision to stop the fight before the bell.
“The referee steps in, now [it is] definitely after the bell, [but] I really believe that the referee had already made up his mind simultaneously, as the bell was about to ring. The referee was already ready to stop it, so you can’t blame him.
“Now, for the people out there that said the referee knew there was only 10 seconds left – that ain’t his job. Go back to [Julio Cesar] Chavez and Meldrick Taylor, when that fight was stopped with seconds left in the fight! That took that fight away from Meldrick Taylor, who had won that fight.
“Yeah, I am being a lawyer for the ref. What are you going to do? I am a lawyer for anyone who I think is right in a business that I have been in for 50 years. I am a prosecutor for anyone who I think should be thrown out or thrown in jail!”
💯that the bell had rung when fight was stopped, but also obvious that just as bell sounded the ref had already started to stop the fight. Take a look & Listen! #usykvsverhoeven pic.twitter.com/BbN0xuvKOE
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) May 25, 2026
Verhoeven has lodged an appeal with the commission, hoping to overturn the result to a ”no-contest’ or force an immediate rematch. Usyk, however, has been ordered by the WBC to face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel or risk losing his belt.
