Usyk-Verhoeven ref had seen enough to end fight before bell

The referee overseeing the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven bout stated to a boxing commission that he had sufficient grounds to stop the fight in the 11th round prior to the official bell. This admission suggests a potential early intervention was considered by the official. The fight, which took place on December 9, 2023, saw Usyk secure a victory over Verhoeven. Details regarding the specific observations that led the referee to consider stopping the fight were presented to the commission. The commission's review aims to assess the officiating performance and adherence to boxing regulations during the match. This examination is standard procedure following significant bouts where officiating decisions may be scrutinized.