Usyk avoids shock with 11th round stoppage of Verhoeven

Ukraine's undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk secured a victory over Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, stopping him with just one second left in the penultimate round. The fight, which took place on Saturday at the Pyramids of Giza, narrowly averted what could have been one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

The bout was widely perceived as a mismatch, pitting the undefeated Usyk against Verhoeven, who had only one previous professional boxing fight, occurring 12 years prior. However, Verhoeven, a prominent figure in kickboxing, defied expectations from the opening bell, putting on a surprisingly strong performance that had many believing he was on track to win.

Usyk, known for his technical prowess and undefeated record, faced a significant challenge from Verhoeven, who demonstrated unexpected resilience and skill in the boxing ring. The fight kept spectators on the edge of their seats as Verhoeven pushed the champion, making the outcome uncertain until the final moments of the 11th round.

The victory preserves Usyk's perfect professional record and prevents a stunning defeat against an opponent with considerably less professional boxing experience. The event highlighted Verhoeven's courage and capability to compete at the highest level, even in a sport outside his primary discipline.