\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While many disagreed with the time of the stoppage, not everyone agreed letting Verhoeven continue would have seen him win on points.<\/p>\n
Four-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson said the referee “robbed” the public of a definitive ending to the fight.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Bad night in the office, don’t look like [Usyk] was in tip-top shape to me.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“We probably should do it again.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Verhoeven welcomed a rematch and said he intended to continue boxing, whether he fought Usyk again or not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n