Joe Rogan Blames Corruption in Boxing for the Controversial Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Result

UFC commentator Joe Rogan hints at boxing corruption while discussing Rico Verhoeven's unfortunate loss to Oleksandr Usyk.

Joe Rogan Blames Corruption in Boxing for the Controversial Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Result

Joe Rogan critiques Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven stoppage (via SPORTbible, The Independent)

Joe Rogan has built a reputation as one of combat sports’ most outspoken analysts and commentators. The longtime UFC voice rarely holds back his opinions on controversial topics. He did the same while hosting kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven on his podcast. Their discussion focused on boxing corruption following Verhoeven’s controversial loss against Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk defended his WBC heavyweight title against Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The former GLORY kickboxing champion impressed during his professional boxing debut and remained competitive throughout the contest. Usyk shifted momentum late, dropping Verhoeven before the referee stopped the fight at 2:59 of the eleventh round.

Interestingly, the controversy centered on referee Mark Lyson stopping the fight moments after Verhoeven was wobbled in the eleventh round. The official scorecards after ten rounds had two judges scoring it 95-95, while the third favored Verhoeven 96-94. Those circumstances fueled Rogan’s criticism as he questioned boxing’s long-standing concerns over corruption and officiating.

There’s no way they would stop that fight. No way. Look, it’s either incompetence or corruption. And I tend to think corruption. This is what I think these guys want to keep judging fights, and they want the favor of the promoters, and the money is in Usyk. Usyk is a huge name. He’s their big star in the heavyweight division. At this point in time, they should really consider having alternative scoring,

Joe Rogan via JRE MMA Show #183

Rogan has criticized boxing’s judging for years after controversial fights. He also questioned Tyson Fury‘s win over Francis Ngannou, claiming the referee deliberately gave the British heavyweight extra recovery time after the knockdown. Rogan further argued major boxing fights always have one judge with questionable scorecards.

Rogan later criticized judge Juan Carlos Pelayo‘s 96-93 scorecard favoring Fury against Ngannou. He called the score indefensible and argued officials responsible for such decisions should not oversee major boxing bouts. The UFC commentator maintained that poor judging continues to damage boxing’s credibility.

Usyk’s controversial stoppage victory over Verhoeven quickly made waves across the combat sports world because of the officiating debate. The result also drew attention from YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who expressed disappointment over the ending and renewed scrutiny surrounding boxing officiating.

Expectations quickly shifted toward a rematch after Verhoeven’s team filed a formal protest against the controversial stoppage. However, Usyk appears focused on a retirement fight against either Deontay Wilder or Jon Jones instead of revisiting the matchup immediately. That uncertainty has left the Dutchman in a stalemate.

The controversy surrounding Ukrainian’s stoppage of Verhoeven continues to dominate discussions as the formal protest remains unresolved. Meanwhile, Joe Rogan has once again highlighted long-standing concerns over boxing officiating, reinforcing criticisms he has consistently made following several controversial results over the years.

RELATED
‘King of the Nile’ Oleksandr Usyk Earns a Controversial Stoppage Victory Over Rico Verhoeven at The Pyramids of Giza

Joe Rogan comes to UFC heavyweight champion’s defense after UFC 321 debacle

Tom Aspinall‘s UFC 321 title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in controversy after an accidental double eye poke from the Frenchman forced a no contest. The fight stopped at 4:35 of the first round after Aspinall could not continue. Aspinall retained the UFC heavyweight title, but the ending created major debate around the bout.

Aspinall faced criticism from sections of the UFC community after the no contest, with some accusing him of quitting. UFC veterans Anthony Smith and Chael Sonnen publicly questioned the champion’s decision not to continue after the eye poke. Their comments sparked debate about Aspinall’s toughness and willingness to fight through adversity.

Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan (Image via Earth.org)

Joe Rogan recently hosted kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where they discussed several combat sports topics. The Dutch superstar spoke about potentially moving to the UFC. However, Rogan shut down the idea, defending Aspinall and criticizing how fighters are treated by promotions.

He got a bad deal. The way people got upset at him for stopping the fight with those eye pokes, to me that drove me crazy. What do you expect the guy to do? He’s defending the heavyweight title. He’s defending the heavyweight title. He gets poked in the eyes and he can’t see and he’s had two eye surgeries since then.

Joe Rogan via JRE MMA Show #183


RicoVerhoeven has also trained with Aspinall in the past and shared a positive view of the heavyweight champion’s abilities. He agreed with Rogan’s explanation of the UFC 321 controversy, adding another perspective to the debate.

Also Read: