A stunning performance, the thrill of the battle and the controversy of the finish mean an immediate rematch must occur between three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

Yes, we know that the unbeaten Usyk has a WBC order to next fight interim champion Agit Kabayel, and that Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh wants to do Kabayel next and then Verhoeven.

But this one can’t wait.

Not only did everyone by replay see the injustice of referee Mark Lyson stopping the fight after the bell had rang in the 11th round, Verhoeven showed in just his second pro boxing match that he was every bit equal with the two-time undisputed champion from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian, 39, displayed unprecedented vulnerability during the bout, referencing afterward the distraction of his family being in peril by Russian bombing of his home country.

He also appeared to have taken Verhoeven way lightly as the game challenger nominated by actor Jason Statham for the bout turned in an Oscar-contending showing by bringing pressure, creativity and defiance that captivated fight fans.

Since this fight came to us from an unexpected source, think of it in Hollywood terms: To put Verhoeven on ice right now would be like denying Rocky Balboa’s rematch against Apollo Creed.

We know how that one turned out.

But seriously, nearly 50 years ago, Muhammad Ali gifted a title shot to 1976 Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks when Spinks was just 7-0-1. Spinks put up a marvelous fight against the fading Ali, edged him by split decision, and went right back to the rematch.

The only difference is that Verhoeven didn’t win.

But in the eyes of the public, he was winning.

And the fact this outcome is the talk of the sport today means the sport should stand up and not only do the right thing, but capitalize upon the momentum of the buzz over this surprise evening at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

Verhoeven has filed an appeal to have the stoppage reviewed, a situation that could propel boxing’s decision makers to rule this fight needs to be run right back.

If it doesn’t happen like that, you know what they’ll say: Usyk was winning on the scorecards. Usyk would’ve finished him off in the 12th anyway. There’s an order in place to fight Kabayel.

Verhoeven trainer Peter Fury admitted he told his fighter as they headed to the bout following a spirited training camp, “You’re not gonna get any favors here.”

The same words echo as we await where it goes from here.

But Fury took comfort in the theatric effort.  

“He did absolutely marvelous,” Fury said of Verhoeven. “Both men done brilliant in there. Oleksandr took some great shots, bided his time and found him. It was a brilliant boxing display in there. We’ve seen a good fight. [Verhoeven had a] fabulous pace on, basically he just ran out of energy.”

When they spoke briefly after the stoppage that triggered immediate outrage from the DAZN broadcast team and so many others, Fury told Verhoeven, “Let’s be sportsmen here.”

Later, Verhoeven posted himself eating a slice of pizza on Instagram with a statement that included these words:

“Things go wrong so you can learn to appreciate them when they’re right… so better things can fall together. History was made,” he said.

He gets it.

Now, let’s hope boxing does.