Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven: Peter Fury confronts and then forgives the referee on flight home
Boxing Scene • • general
Key Points:
- Peter Fury, trainer of Rico Verhoeven, was on the same flight as referee Mark Lyson, who stopped the fight in favor of Oleksandr Usyk in the 11th round during their bout in Egypt.
- Despite Usyk being a heavy favorite, Verhoeven was surprisingly competitive and appeared close to winning after 10 rounds.
- The fight was stopped after Usyk knocked Verhoeven down and pressed the attack, but Fury believes the referee’s decision was a genuine mistake as Lyson admitted he did not hear the bell signaling the end of the round.
- Fury expressed understanding of the referee’s error, emphasizing the challenges referees face in deciding when to stop fights and acknowledging the overall quality of the match.