Usyk would have narrowly gone in front on the scorecards with a 10-8 round in the 11th, leaving the fight finely balanced in the final round.

While many disagreed with the time of the stoppage, not everyone agreed letting Verhoeven continue would have seen him win on points.

Four-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson said the referee “robbed” the public of a definitive ending to the fight.

“Usyk turned it on when he needed. The referee helped for sure but who’s to say Usyk wasn’t [going to] get him out of there, he had plenty time,” he said.

“Bad night in the office, don’t look like [Usyk] was in tip-top shape to me.”

Tony Bellew was knocked out by Usyk in their cruiserweight world title fight in 2018 and said he had never seen the Ukrainian “out-worked” before in his career.

“I don’t think Rico would have been ready to career on in the 12th. He was done, he was spent. But a massive part of that is down to experience,” Bellew said.

“We probably should do it again.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Richie Woodhall said there would be “questions asked” about the referee’s decision but called for a rematch to settle the matter.

Verhoeven welcomed a rematch and said he intended to continue boxing, whether he fought Usyk again or not.