Usyk survived an almighty scare, stopping Verhoeven in the final second of round 11 just as the Dutch kickboxer threatened to pull off one of boxing's greatest upsets.
On a night when the champion looked uncharacteristically vulnerable, the shockwaves of his performance have rippled across the division, leaving the heavyweight landscape - and Usyk's options - suddenly wide open.
- Usyk survives scare with 11th-round stoppage of Verhoeven
- Usyk avoids Verhoeven upset - as it happened
- Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW
Agit Kabayel
The WBC mandatory challenger has been waiting patiently for his shot at Usyk and now he is in pole position.
After beating Verhoeven, Usyk must defend his WBC title against Kabayel next or else face being stripped of the belt.
Kabayel was at ringside to witness Usyk's performance and got into the ring to lay down his challenge to Usyk in person.
"First of all, congratulations Oleksandr," he said. "I've waited for this situation for so long, I am ready.
"Germany is waiting for the fight. I know many Ukrainian people live in Germany. Let's do the fight in Germany in a stadium. Boxing fans want this fight, let's do it.
Usyk replied: "OK, no problem. Brother. I am ready."
Rico Verhoeven rematch?
The prospect of an immediate rematch gained momentum almost as soon as the final bell sounded.
Ring Magazine CEO Rick Reeno joined Kabayel in the ring, as did Turki Alalshikh, who made it clear that Verhoeven's performance had shifted the conversation.
The Dutchman may have fallen short, but he pushed Usyk to the brink in a way few expected - and that alone has strengthened calls for a second meeting.
Alalshikh outlined his vision for how the next chapter should unfold, balancing mandatory obligations with the appetite for a blockbuster return bout.
"This is the choice of Usyk. This is not the right time," he said. "He [Kabayel] is in line, but Rico deserves a rematch after Kabayel. We want to see Kabayel, and then the rematch with Rico in Holland."
A rematch in the Netherlands - Verhoeven's home turf - would be a huge commercial event, and given how close he came to producing a seismic upset, their is appetite to see it again.
Frank Sanchez
Fresh off his devastating second‑round knockout of Richard Torrez Jr in an IBF final eliminator, Frank Sanchez wasted no time throwing his name into the mix.
The Cuban has long been touted as one of the most avoided fighters in the division, and with momentum behind him, he made it clear he wants his shot at the very top.
"I've been working the whole time in the gym with my team, kept myself right waiting for this opportunity," he said.
"It came, I took it, and now I'm ready for whoever is next. Usyk, we're ready for you whenever you want."
Time catching up with Usyk?
Was this performance the first indication that time may be creeping up on Usyk?
The 39‑year‑old, who weighed in at a career‑heaviest 16st 9lb, looked unusually flat during the middle rounds - the very phase of a fight where he typically takes control.
His reactions were slower, his feet a touch heavier, and for long stretches he was being pushed back by a man with only one professional boxing bout to his name.
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew, who lost his title to Usyk in 2018, believes Verhoeven exposed vulnerabilities in the Ukrainian that have never surfaced before.
"It's the only time in his whole career I've seen Usyk outworked on a consistent basis. At the back end of each round, he was losing and getting out‑landed.
"Rico Verhoeven has come out of this a winner. His hand might not have been raised, but given what we expected, he nearly sprung the biggest surprise boxing has ever seen.
"We'll never know whether Verhoeven would have made it out for round 12, so we should probably do it again. It's the least that boy deserves after the performance he's just put in."
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki on Zuffa Boxing show in Bournemouth in June 6, live on Sky Sports.
