Ref Admits He Didn’t Hear the Bell — Now Usyk Faces Stripping Threat and Turki Demands Rematch

Rico Verhoeven’s coach Peter Fury has dropped a bombshell after the controversial ending to his fighter’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk, revealing that the referee admitted he didn’t hear the bell before stopping the contest. Fury explained that he found himself on the same plane as the official immediately after the fight. “I said, ‘You’ve made a mistake…’ And he said to me, which is really important, ‘Peter, I didn’t hear the bell,’” Fury disclosed. The confession adds major fuel to calls for a rematch, with many believing the heavyweight kickboxing king was denied the chance to hear the final round. However, any immediate plans for a second meeting have hit a significant roadblock. Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has warned that Usyk risks being stripped of the WBC heavyweight title if he opts for a Verhoeven rematch. Warren, who promotes unbeaten WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, made it clear the German is the mandatory challenger and has waited long enough. “They’re talking about maybe doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico, we’re not going to stand for that. If he doesn’t take it, he’ll have to vacate it, or be stripped, it’s as simple as that,” Warren stated. Kabayel sits at 27-0 with 19 knockouts and is widely regarded as the leading contender for the green belt. Defying that pressure, Turki Alalshikh has stepped in to back the rematch. The Saudi powerbroker told Stomping Ground he viewed the finish as a “bad stoppage” and intends to deliver the fight. “I want to see a rematch in the future. I wanted to see a 12th round, I will do one more fight with Usyk for Rico,” Alalshikh said, setting up a direct conflict with the WBC’s mandatory obligations. With the referee’s private admission now public, Alalshikh pushing hard, and Warren threatening the title, Usyk faces a defining choice between business demands and fan demand for closure. Photo credit: Ring Magazine

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