Usyk retains titles with controversial stoppage against Verhoeven

Oleksandr Usyk retained his world heavyweight titles in Egypt with a controversial 11th-round stoppage win against boxer Rico Verhoeven. Verhoeven, competing in only his second professional boxing match, was the clear aggressor for much of the bout, surprising Usyk, a renowned champion. Despite the unexpected competitiveness, Usyk managed a late surge, landing a sharp left uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. Though Verhoeven beat the referee's count, a follow-up flurry of punches led the referee to stop the fight—a decision that many observers deemed harsh against the challenger. The scorecards at the time read 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in favor of Verhoeven.

After the match, Usyk described the contest as a challenging and good fight. Although he celebrated his win, Verhoeven criticized the referee's decision as an "early stoppage" and voiced a desire for a rematch, arguing that he felt the scorecards were even. Usyk's WBC title was up for grabs, and the match also served as a defense of his WBA 'super' championship, though Verhoeven would not have been eligible for that title even if he had won. The IBF sanctioned the match but did not include its title.

The fight took place in a unique setting near the Pyramids of Giza, with Verhoeven making an energetic entrance, while Usyk donned a gladiator-style outfit. Verhoeven started strong, moving constantly and landing effective punches, while Usyk struggled at times, even being caught with a solid right hand from Verhoeven in the third round. After a difficult stretch, Usyk seemed to find his rhythm, allowing him to land decisive punches in the later rounds.

As the fight progressed, Verhoeven managed to withstand the pressure but found himself visibly hurt by Usyk's punches towards the end. The ending was disputed, with many fans and critics feeling that Verhoeven should have been given the opportunity to continue through the 12th and final round. Post-fight, Agit Kabayel, the WBC mandatory challenger, expressed his desire for a title shot against Usyk, stating that he was ready for the fight. Usyk expressed willingness to face Kabayel, suggesting that he might fight two more times after the bout with Verhoeven.

With this victory, Usyk faced a significant challenge, even from a newcomer, highlighting the unpredictability of boxing bouts between fighters with varying backgrounds.