Undefeated heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles on Saturday, May 23, after stopping kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round. The bout, held at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, ended in controversy when referee Mark Lyson waved off the contest at 2 minutes and 59 seconds of Round 11. Despite the stoppage occurring just one second before the bell, the referee intervened after Oleksandr Usyk dropped the 6-foot-5 Dutchman with a sharp right uppercut.
The 39-year-old Oleksandr Usyk extended his perfect record to 25-0 with 16 knockouts, but the victory was far from the mismatch many experts had predicted. Rico Verhoeven, 37, was competing in only his second professional boxing match and his first in 12 years. Despite his lack of boxing experience, the former kickboxer dominated large stretches of the fight, utilizing body shots to make the Ukrainian champion look uncharacteristically sluggish and lethargic throughout the evening.
Scorecards confirmed how close the champion came to a historic upset. Two judges had the fight deadlocked at 95-95 entering the 11th round, while the third had Rico Verhoeven leading 96-94. The cageside broadcast team at DAZN News had the challenger even further ahead at 98-92. This meant Oleksandr Usyk faced a potential points loss had the fight reached the final bell, necessitating the late surge that ultimately saved his titles.
Oleksandr Usyk overcomes career-high weight and lethargy
Oleksandr Usyk tipped the scales heavier than ever before for this contest, and the extra mass appeared to hinder his signature mobility. For 10 rounds, he struggled to replicate the high-volume punching that defined his previous wins. Rico Verhoeven “tore up the script” from the opening bell, using his size to press the action. He fought what many described as a perfect fight for nearly 11 rounds, neutralizing the champion’s southpaw advantage.
The high-stakes atmosphere drew a star-studded crowd to Giza, including Hollywood actor Jason Statham and former champion Anthony Joshua. Their presence underscored the magnitude of the event, which was broadcast globally on DAZN. While Rico Verhoeven intended to box at a world-class level, few expected he would push the division’s consensus leader to the brink of defeat before the sudden ending.
The finish came when Oleksandr Usyk pounced after Rico Verhoeven beat the 10-count following the knockdown. Referee Mark Lyson’s decision to stop the fight at 2:59 of the 11th round has been heavily scrutinized. Rico Verhoeven expressed frustration with the timing, noting that with only one second left in the round, the referee should have allowed the bell to ring to see if he could recover for the final frame.
Controversial stoppage clouds heavyweight title result
Rico Verhoeven was vocal about the ending, stating he thought it was an early stoppage but acknowledging the decision lay with the official. “The referee knows that we are almost at the end of the round, so let me go out on my shield or let the bell go,” he said. DAZN News went further, describing the intervention as one of the most contentious stoppages in the history of heavyweight title fights given the context of the scores.
Oleksandr Usyk was gracious in the aftermath, praising his opponent’s durability. “This fight was hard. It was a good fight. I was just boxing, my right uppercut, bang,” the champion remarked. He dedicated the win to the Ukrainian soldiers and people back home. Though he retained all three belts, Rico Verhoeven was only eligible for the WBC title; had the Dutchman won, the IBF and WBA belts would have been declared vacant.
Undercard results from the Pyramids of Giza
The supporting bill in Giza produced several clinical finishes and new champions. Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title by knocking out Alem Begic at 2:33 of the second round. Meanwhile, Jack Catterall dominated Shakhram Giyasov over 12 rounds to win the WBA (Regular) welterweight title via unanimous decision (119-108, 116-111, 118-109). The heavyweights also saw action as Frank Sanchez stopped Richard Torrez Jr. in just 55 seconds of the second round.
Earlier in the night, Mizuki Hiruta retained her Ring Magazine and WBO super flyweight titles by defeating Mai Soliman on the cards (98-92, 98-92, 99-91). Prior to the event, analysts suggested Richard Torrez Jr. would showcase his technical growth, but the power of Frank Sanchez proved insurmountable in their brief encounter. Rounding out the results, Benjamin Mendes Tani secured a TKO victory over Daniel Lapin at 1:35 of the fourth round.
What follows for the heavyweight champion and the challenger
The narrow escape for Oleksandr Usyk has raised questions about his future at 39 years old. While he remains the man to beat in the division, his lethargic performance and record weight may force a tactical rethink before his next defense. He has proven he can survive a “perfect fight” from an outsider, but traditional boxing contenders will be encouraged by the blueprints laid out by the Dutch kickboxer in the Egyptian desert.
Rico Verhoeven enters a new phase of his career with his stock significantly higher than it was before the opening bell. Despite the loss, he proved he can compete with elite boxers, and he has already begun pitching for a rematch. “I thought we were pretty equal on the scorecards,” the challenger noted. Given the controversial nature of the 11th-round stoppage and the competitive scores, a second meeting would likely draw significant interest.
