TLDR
- Jason Statham called the refereeing in Usyk vs. Verhoeven ‘diabolical’ and condemned the controversial stoppage
- The fight was stopped with one second left in round 11 after Verhoeven beat the count but the referee waved it off
- Statham helped set up the bout by nominating kickboxer Rico Verhoeven to face champion Oleksandr Usyk
- Two judges had the fight tied 95-95 going into round 11, with one judge scoring it 96-94 for Verhoeven
- Statham called for boxing authorities to review the decision and suggested a possible rematch
Sources: Bloody Elbow | TalkSport | Mirror Sport
Hollywood action star Jason Statham has issued a statement condemning the refereeing in the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven heavyweight championship fight, calling the ending “diabolical” and demanding accountability from boxing authorities.
The British actor, who attended the “Glory in Giza” event at the Pyramids of Egypt on Saturday, helped bring the fight together by nominating Dutch kickboxer Verhoeven as a challenger for the Ukrainian champion. What was expected to be a mismatch turned into one of the most controversial bouts in recent boxing history.
Controversial Stoppage Sparks Outrage
Usyk stopped Verhoeven with one second remaining in the 11th round of the 12-round WBC title fight. The 39-year-old Ukrainian dropped Verhoeven with a right uppercut, and although the Dutchman beat the 10-count, referee Mark Lyson waved off the fight.
Jason Statham, the man who created the idea of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven, has shared his thoughts on the controversial stoppage…
Thoughts?💭 pic.twitter.com/jVBRYjC5DI
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) May 25, 2026
The stoppage occurred at 2 minutes and 59 seconds of round 11. According to scorecards published by The Ring magazine, two judges had the fight tied 95-95 going into that round, while the third judge scored it 96-94 for Verhoeven.
“I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven told DAZN after the fight. “The referee knows that we are almost at the end of the round, so or let me go out on my shield or let the bell go.”
Statham publicly blasted the referee’s decision, calling it unworthy of a top-level heavyweight contest. He argued that Verhoeven was denied the chance to finish the fight properly and was still defending himself when the bout was waved off.
The actor praised Verhoeven’s performance and toughness throughout the contest. He urged governing bodies to address what he called a stain on the event.
Unexpected Challenge Shocks Boxing World
Verhoeven, 37, was making only his second professional boxing appearance after fighting once 12 years ago. The Dutch kickboxer tore up expectations from the opening bell, taking the fight to the heavily favored champion.
Usyk struggled to deal with the bigger and heavier challenger, who showed creativity and defiance throughout the bout. It took until the fourth round for Usyk to have a round that was clearly his, but he was unable to capitalize on it.
The Ukrainian champion tipped the scales heavier than ever before and appeared lethargic at times during the fight. After the bout, Usyk referenced the distraction of his family being in peril from Russian bombing of his home country.
“This fight was hard. It was a good fight,” Usyk said after extending his unbeaten record to 25 fights. “Thank you so much, Rico. You are an amazing fighter.”
Verhoeven was fighting only for the WBC belt, while Usyk risked his WBA and IBF titles as well. Those titles would have been declared vacant had he been beaten.
Statham called for boxing authorities to review what happened and make amends. He hinted at a possible rematch between the two fighters.
Verhoeven has filed an appeal to have the stoppage reviewed. Trainer Peter Fury told his fighter before the bout, “You’re not gonna get any favors here,” but praised his performance afterward, saying “He did absolutely marvelous.”
The DAZN broadcast team expressed immediate outrage at the stoppage decision. Verhoeven later posted on Instagram eating pizza with a statement that included the words: “Things go wrong so you can learn to appreciate them when they’re right.”
Usyk currently holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles and has a mandatory defense order to fight interim champion Agit Kabayel next.
