Many boxing fans believe that Oleksandr Usyk was just a round away from one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history against Rico Verhoeven, and now Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has expressed his views on the fight.

With only one professional boxing fight under his belt, most people gave Verhoeven minimal chances ahead of his unconventional clash with Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza.

The Dutchman quickly proved that he should be taken seriously as his style caused problems for Usyk, who had trouble winning rounds and was constantly off the pace.

Before round 11, it was revealed that two judges had the fight level while one had Verhoeven ahead 96-94. In interview for iFL TVWarren described the result as “horrible”, believing that the underdog’s performance deserved a bigger advantage.

“I actually thought it was a really good fight, fun to watch and he won it. I had him four or five [rounds] up, I thought the scoring was terrible.

In this penultimate round, these scorecards became redundant as a judge Mark Lyson intervened after Verhoeven met Usyk’s uppercut and then applied pressure in a corner.

Continuing, Warren said a more experienced operator would take some extra time and look at the entire round.

“I think if he [Verhoeven] when he fell, he had a little more experience [he could have survived the round]. I noticed that his rubber cover had half fallen off and he put it back on without touching it, he sort of swallowed it back.

“Anyone with a bit of experience would spit it out and maybe gain a little more from it [of time]”

Verhoeven appealed the outcome of the fight, hoping to have the fight result changed to a “no contest” or force an immediate rematch, although the WBC confirmed that Usyk would next have to have mandatory challenger Shit Kabayel, promoted by Warren.

“Torrez will be as good as his beard will last,” Bradley said on his YouTube channel.

Bradley explained that Torrez is considering almost all other options as a heavyweight prospect, but cautioned that durability will become inevitable once fighters reach an elite opponent.

“You’ve got to have a heart and a chin. You need both,” Bradley said.

“And if you can’t make it here or take on a large challenge, especially at heavyweight, you’re a deserter.”

Bradley stopped tiny of completely dismissing Torrez, pointing out that Sanchez’s knockout shot was one the undefeated American never expected.

“I’m not saying Torrez is defective, but that was the first right hand you got hit with,” Bradley said. “Some guys get knocked down by shots they can’t see.”

The defeat also reminded fans of Torrez’s first-round knockout loss to the undefeated Uzbek heavyweight Bakhodir Yalolov in the amateurs in September 2019 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The sequence was similar to Sanchez’s defeat, with Torrez lunging forward aggressively before being caught by the taller southpaw and landing flat on his back.

Bradley also criticized Torrez’s aggressive approach to a perilous boxer like Sanchez, saying the fight developed exactly as the Cuban heavyweight veteran wanted it to.

“It’s perilous to walk toward a hitter,” Bradley said. “You have to give yourself time.”

The Hall of Fame analyst added that Sanchez immediately recognized Torrez’s driving habits and, after watching the same holes on film, timed his looping right hand perfectly.

“Nothing has changed,” Bradley said. – Same damn mistake.

Despite the loss, Bradley continued to praise Torrez for his work ethic and mentality, saying the heavyweight contender remains one of the better teenage figures in the division.

“He controls every other field,” Bradley said. “He works challenging. He’s very disciplined. He’s a good guy. He’s a student of the game.”

Bradley said Torrez’s future may now depend on how he reacts when he starts landing pristine heavyweight punches more often against an experienced opponent.

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman will attempt a comeback this summer at the age of 53, in another sign that aging fighters competing in their 50s may soon become completely normal.

Rahman is scheduled to announce his return on July 14 in Rochester, Fresh York, as part of what promoters describe as his bid to become the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

For many fans, the immediate reaction is obvious: what the hell?

However, World Boxing News asked this exact question fifteen years ago, when fighters competing in their 40s still felt unusual rather than expected.

Back in 2011, WBN examined whether boxing was heading towards an era in which fighters routinely competed well into their 40s and 50s, while legends such as Bernard Hopkins, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney continued to extend their careers.

It still seemed unusual to me at the time.

Now he barely raises his eyebrows.

Hasim Rahman at the age of 53

The signs were already there when George Foreman shocked boxing in 1994 by regaining the heavyweight title at the age of 45.

Since then, sports science, nutrition, recovery methods and state-of-the-art celebrity culture have completely changed the perception of aging.

Warriors don’t even look senior anymore in their 50s, while many of them barely look senior in their 60s.

Mike Tyson became the latest example when the former undisputed heavyweight champion returned against Jake Paul in 2024 and continued to show flashes of the timing, movement and presence that once made him the most feared fighter in the world.

Rahman now becomes the latest former heavyweight champion to try to turn back the clock.

But unlike many aging fighters, Rahman is not some forgotten name from boxing history.

He remains the man who caused one of the greatest upsets in history by knocking out Lennox Lewis in South Africa to win the world heavyweight title in 2001.

This moment alone guarantees curiosity about any comeback attempts, no matter how senior he is.

The return of the heavyweight division

The bigger question is whether boxing is quietly entering a whole recent age when it comes to age.

Fifteen years ago, athletes competing in their 50s were still shocking.

It almost seems normal to me now.

And with each aging former champion proving that they can still go a few rounds despite their older bodies, boxing is getting closer and closer to a reality where turning 50 doesn’t seem like it’s nearly over anymore.

This should probably worry people more than they already do.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.