Anthony Joshua believes Rico Verhoeven should have been given the chance to finish the fight after his controversial eleventh-round stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt. Verhoeven entered the bout as a huge underdog, but his pressure and awkward kickboxing-based rhythm made things unexpectedly difficult for Usyk, who struggled to control the fight for long stretches.
Usyk eventually found the breakthrough in round 11, dropping Verhoeven with an uppercut before following up with a late barrage. Referee Mark Lyson waved the fight off as the round ended, with Verhoeven on his feet and many viewers arguing that he should have been allowed to come out for the twelfth and final round.
Joshua, who has twice shared the ring with Usyk and now trains alongside him, was less certain when asked whether Verhoeven had been winning the fight. “Good question. I don’t know,” Joshua said. “Good fight though, I knew he was a good fighter.”
On the stoppage itself, Joshua was much more direct. Asked whether Verhoeven should have been allowed to continue, he said: “Yeah. Definitely.”
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