Let's say Rico was saved by the bell at the end of the 11th, does Usyk KO Rico in the 12 or does it go to the cards?
I think it is very likely Usyk would have stopped him in R12, but Verhoeven should have been given the chance to try and fight his way out of trouble.
Rico could’ve ran for 3 minutes in the 12th and he still would’ve got the win in my book, not on the judges scorecards though
Rico is durable as **** and extremely fit. He very well could have survived the 12th. I think the ref stopped it at the earliest convenience to save it from going to , what would have been, the very controversial scorecards.
Usyk could be what the championship rounds are named after he always rallies and does what’s necessary so I am not going to bet against him when Verhoeven was hurt. If he could survive three minutes he has every chance for the biggest upset of all time. Usyk having wounded prey and that knowledge I don’t think that it would even enter his head that he wouldn’t stop him. Dude deserved the chance though and still had his wits about him enough to spit the mouthpiece out for the extra twenty seconds.
Have to give respect to Peter Fury for giving a balanced and neutral assessment of the stoppage. Says he’s disappointed he didn’t get the chance to come out because he wasn’t that badly hurt but he was very tired and had taken a good shot, Usyk’s an amazing fighter and his team are brilliant. Also said he could see Usyk knocking him out in the 12th. Nice to see. That’s a real fighting man. The rest of the Fury’s, even John, come out with some honest stuff sometimes but also a cart load of rubbish when discussing things that don’t go Tyson’s way.
Yea I agree. Rico, IMO would have survived the 12th and final on his way to a decision lose to Oleksander. The uppercut Rico got caught with was a peach of a punch, knocked his mouth guard out in the process. Rico was stunned but thankfully for him he had time to recover. 12th would have been most likely won by Usyk but it does not negate the fact the ref made a bad bad stoppage
I think Rico would've survived it. The guy seems like a warrior and supposedly has excellent powers of recovery in a sport where more damaging weapons than just fists are allowed. Fury took a worse sustained beating from Usyk in that famous Round 9 from their 1st fight, recovered, and was competitive for 3 more rounds. I don't see why people are so confident that Usyk would get him out of there - especially with how flat-footed and poor Usyk looked by his own high standards last night.
It's a BS stoppage , but there was an angle which was front on replay just before the stoppage and that's the view the ref got ... Just before the stoppage there was at least 4 or 5 big shots unanswered while Usyk had his feet planted and was unloading.. so I can see kind of why the ref jumped in .. Still he should of let the fight go on it was on the bell , so really Rico got saved by the bell.. We definitely should of had the 12th round ...
