Oleksandr Usyk's next move is unclear after Rico Verhoeven called for a rematch following their fight on Friday, 19 June 2026.
What happened?
Verhoeven performed well against Usyk, extending him to 11 rounds before losing to a contentious stoppage in a temporary arena in Egypt.
The kickboxing superstar has now called for an immediate rematch, stating he wants to finish the story and give fans the chance to see how the fight was meant to end.
Why it matters for Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk has a mandatory defence of his WBC title against Agit Kabayel, but Verhoeven's call for a rematch has thrown his plans into uncertainty.
Trainer Gary Logan believes Verhoeven should take other fights to legitimize himself as a heavyweight, rather than pushing for a rematch with Usyk.
What comes next?
Usyk has defeated the modern heavyweight elite twice over, including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois, and may look to continue this trend.
Hamzah Sheeraz warned that a rematch may not favour Verhoeven, as Usyk has a history of improving in second fights against the same opponent.
Verhoeven's determination to secure a rematch is clear, but it remains to be seen whether Usyk will grant him another shot.
The WBC title is still held by Usyk, along with the IBF and WBA championships, and he must defend it against Kabayel if he is to retain it.
Usyk's place in sporting history is already secure, but he may look to continue fighting to cement his legacy.
And with several options available, Usyk's next move will be closely watched by the boxing world.
But for now, the question on everyone's mind is: what's next for Oleksandr Usyk?
So the wait begins to see whether Usyk will choose to face Verhoeven again or defend his title against Kabayel.