Protests, Apologies and Pride - Rico Verhoeven
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What led Rico Verhoeven to file an official protest after the fight?
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So one minute I'm on a camel, the next thing I'm sitting by a pyramid, the next thing I'm ringside for one of the most extraordinary fights in heavyweight history. And now, well, I'm in a pub somewhere in London talking to the one man that's got me out of my house, Rico Verhoeven. I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing.
So, Rico, first of all, welcome to London. I understand it's been a busy... Have you slept since the fight? Yeah, yeah, I tried.
What were the controversial moments during the fight in Egypt?
No, it's been... Yeah, it's been a crazy few days, but... Super exciting and still very grateful.
Rick, I've got to start with what happened after the fight. We'll go back to the fight and the week in a second. With Karim, your manager, and you all agreeing to file a complaint. Who was that filed with and why have you done that?
It's been filed with the Middle East Boxing Commission. and why it was filed is just to be honest to get an apology and of course we hope for the rematch but yeah i can sit here and be bitter and be angry but we're all human we all make mistakes and that's what i believe happened that there was a mistake was made
And that's it. By the referee, Mark Lyson, because the bell had sounded and that's when the stoppage happened.
How does Rico Verhoeven feel about the referee's decision?
You feel that was... Yeah, it's not as much about that moment that the bell goes and he jumps in because when he said, I didn't hear the bell, I believe him because I always try to think of the best of people. The decency. Yeah, the decency. So... I truly believe that he didn't hear that, but... He did see the condition I was in, and I was protecting myself, I was responsive. And he also knew what part of the round we were in, and we were in like the last few bits of the round. So, yeah, those are definitely some reasons why you should just let it carry on. Of course, I know his obligation of protecting the fighter, I know that. But he also saw that, like I said, I was still responsive. I threw a punch, and after that punch, I thought, mm, that's not smart, let's keep my hands up, we're almost there, a few seconds, pop, pop, pop, pop, ping, and then I go back to the corner.
but I didn't get that opportunity.
Rico, in that last round, could you sense yourself tiring? Because it was a draining fight for both fighters, but in the last, say, 30, 40 seconds before the knockdown, could you sense that the fight was in danger of going because you were so tired? Did you get that sense?
Not that the fight was going, but that I was getting tired most definitely. Most definitely, because I was the one... pushing the pace for the last 10 rounds. That's why I also thought I was further ahead than... On the scorecards. Yeah, on the scorecards than I actually was.
What insights does Rico share about his performance during the fight?
Because you'd seen the scorecards after four rounds and after eight rounds, and you were surprised that you were not clearly leading. Yes, sir. Did that make you want to increase your pace, knowing that it was still tied?
Of course. Now looking back at it, I also understand better the viewer's point of view. Because if you look at the commentator's scorecard, he had me up eight rounds. So I had something like that as well. It was like seven to eight ahead. but then getting back the official scorecards, we knew we were tied up, so if I would be so far ahead and we didn't hear about the official scorecards in the 11th round, I wouldn't have kept pushing like that. I was just going, going, coming on the back leg and just like, boop, boop, tippy tapping, till I finished the fight.
Because he needed you to take risks in that last round, to catch you with the punch he caught you with. Exactly, because just attacking me randomly, he would have never caught me. This is a really strange thing to ask you. Was he slightly easier to fight than you expected him to be? Because we've talked about him being a master, a throwback, a genius.
Yes, and I truly believe that he still is.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What led Rico Verhoeven to file an official protest after the fight?
0:00–1:08
2
What were the controversial moments during the fight in Egypt?
1:08–2:06
3
How does Rico Verhoeven feel about the referee's decision?
2:06–3:57
4
What insights does Rico share about his performance during the fight?
3:57–5:35
5
Did Rico sense he was tiring during the later rounds?
5:35–6:54
6
What was Rico's strategy against Oleksandr Usyk?
6:54–7:47
7
How did Rico handle the aftermath of the fight and the public's reaction?
7:47–8:22
8
What are Rico's hopes for his boxing future after this fight?
8:22–25:11