Usyk keeps titles with controversial Verhoeven stoppage

Oleksandr Usyk clung to his world heavyweight titles in Egypt, securing a highly controversial 11th-round stoppage victory over boxing debutant Rico Verhoeven. The fight, held in Egypt, saw Verhoeven, participating in only his second professional boxing bout, emerge as the aggressor for significant portions of the match, even stunning the generational great Usyk.

Potentially trailing on the judges' scorecards, the Ukrainian Usyk mounted a late surge. He landed a sharp left uppercut that sent the Dutch kickboxing legend to the canvas. Although Verhoeven beat the count, a subsequent flurry of punches in the final seconds of the round prompted the referee to intervene and stop the fight. This decision was widely perceived as extremely harsh on the challenger.

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This fight was hard. It was a good fight.

"This fight was hard. It was a good fight," Usyk commented after the bout. In a contest many anticipated would highlight the disparity between elite boxing experience and crossover ambition, the previously unbeaten Usyk appeared uncharacteristically labored. He struggled to establish his usual rhythm, making it the most challenging fight of his career.

Despite the win, which marked his 25th professional victory, Usyk faced criticism from his opponent. Kickboxing star Verhoeven, 37, described the stoppage as "early" and expressed a desire for a rematch, stating the decision was ultimately up to Usyk. "I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th. I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards," Verhoeven said.

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I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th. I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards.