Oleksandr Usyk’s recent victory hasn’t gone down well with boxing fans, with many shifting from disappointment to outright frustration.
Ranked as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, Usyk was expected to handle Rico Verhoeven without too much trouble on Saturday.
But things didn’t go as planned. Verhoeven looked on the verge of pulling off a shock result before the referee stepped in, stopping the fight and handing Usyk a win that sparked plenty of controversy.
Despite being knocked down in the 11th round, most fans had Verhoeven ahead on their scorecards. If the bout had continued into the final round, though, all three official judges would have had Usyk leading.
Usyk vs Verhoeven: Fans rage over scorecards
After ten rounds, two judges had it even and one gave Verhoeven a slight edge. But Usyk’s knockdown in the 11th shifted things in his direction on all cards.
The reaction was immediate once Ariel Helwani posted the scorecards, with many fans taking to social media to vent their anger.
One fan posted: “Pure blatant slimy corruption. F— this sport,” one fan said. While another added: “Those scorecards are disgusting. They were setting up to stitch up Rico big time.”
“Why do we even watch this sport? This is ridiculous,” a third person asked.
“Just shows how corrupt this whole sport is. Usyk won maybe 3 rounds before the stoppage,” someone else tweeted.
“Everyone else had Rico up by at least 7,” another X user pointed out. “Even more rigged than the stoppage lol,” a sixth fan fumed.
Talk of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Agit Kabayel leaves fans wanting Verhoeven rematch
After Glory in Giza, unbeaten heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel stepped into the ring. The conversation quickly shifted to a possible fight between him and Oleksandr Usyk.
But it remains to be seen whether the public backlash over Verhoeven’s loss will change those plans.
“I thought it was an early stoppage,” the former Glory heavyweight champion said post-fight.
“I found it a little bit early. I feel the referee knows we’re almost at the end of the round.
“Let me go out on my shield, or let the bell go. That’s what I thought.
“But it’s not up to me, and I was already super-thankful for the opportunity, and Usyk taking this fight.
“His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] told me, ‘I want a rematch. This was an amazing fight. You were so good’.
“But I also know this man [Kabayel] is waiting. It’s not up to me, it’s up to the organization, so let’s see what happens.
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