Rico Verhoeven confirmed his formal appeal against the decision of his loss to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been rejected by the Dutch boxing commission. The bout ended with scorecards of 95‑95, 95‑95 and 96‑94 in Verhoeven’s favour, but the judges awarded the victory to Usyk. Officials cited the official timekeeper and ringside doctor’s reports as reasons the result stands.

Verhoeven’s team lodged the protest the morning after the fight, arguing that the match should have continued to a 12th round after eleven intense rounds on a global stage. He praised Usyk as “one of the greatest fighters of this generation” but insisted fans deserved to see the conclusion, urging an immediate rematch.

Usyk remains unbeaten in 25 professional bouts, and the commission’s ruling leaves the result unchanged while sparking debate over judging standards. Verhoeven closed his statement with a simple promise: he will be ready if Usyk accepts a rematch. The decision maintains Usyk’s record but fuels calls for a decisive showdown.

Both fighters eye the heavyweight hierarchy, with Verhoeven hoping a win would cement his crossover credibility and Usyk seeking to extend his undisputed reign. The unresolved narrative ensures the bout will dominate talk in the coming weeks.