Ngannou says Verhoeven won despite Usyk stoppage decision

Francis Ngannou has backed Rico Verhoeven to have won his bout with Oleksandr Usyk, claiming the stoppage decision went against the kickboxer. The heavyweight spoke out after the contest ended in controversy.

“Outsiders will never win, trust me I know, but Rico was the winner tonight. Period.”

— Francis Ngannou, via BBC Sport

What Francis Ngannou said

Ngannou competed in boxing after leaving the UFC, suffering two defeats before returning to MMA. His remarks follow a bout involving Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion who moved up from cruiserweight, and Verhoeven. The decision has drawn criticism from observers who felt the result did not match the action.

What it moves

Ngannou's intervention suggests the result will face further scrutiny from fighters and fans. The heavyweight's own experience in combat sports gives weight to his view, though officials have yet to issue any clarification on the scoring or stoppage ruling.

Source: bbc.com. Full Francis Ngannou fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.