Oleksandr Usyk kept the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles after a controversial stoppage that ended his fight with Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The referee stopped the bout with two seconds left in round 11.
The bout, billed “Glory in Giza,” saw Verhoeven—an elite kick‑boxer with only one prior professional boxing bout in 2014—push Usyk harder than many expected. Reporters and fans said Verhoeven appeared to be ahead on the cards for much of the fight.
“I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven told DAZN after the fight.
“I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th. It felt we were pretty even on the scorecards.”
Verhoeven said he was grateful for the chance and that Usyk offered a rematch.
“I am super proud of my performance and hopefully, the boxing world embraces me as a boxer,” he said.
Fight Flow And Key Moments
Verhoeven opened strongly, landing heavy right hands and using an aggressive, bulldozing style that troubled a sluggish Usyk in early rounds. Usyk found his range intermittently, wobbling Verhoeven with an uppercut in round four.
However, the defining sequence came late in round 11. Usyk landed a powerful uppercut that dropped Verhoeven, then followed with a flurry as the Dutchman rose.
With two seconds left, the referee halted the action while Verhoeven was still on his feet and stumbling.
Many ringside observers called the stoppage controversial because of the minimal time remaining and Verhoeven’s apparent competitiveness. Yet the referee judged Verhoeven unable to defend himself safely, handing Usyk a technical knockout.
Usyk addressed the crowd and his family after the win, speaking of the fight’s difficulty and the situation in Ukraine.
“I know right now, Ukrainian people are sitting in the bomb shelter, my daughter too, in a bomb shelter, sent me a message saying, ‘Papa, I love you, you will win’,” he said. “Thank you so much, Rico. You are an amazing fighter.”
Aftermath And Future Matchups
Germany’s WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel immediately entered the ring to call out Usyk and press for a title shot. “I have waited so long for this fight. I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight,” Kabayel said.
Usyk replied to the challenge, saying, “Let’s do it, no problem. I am ready, brother.”
Meanwhile, boxing figures at ringside—including Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, Gennady Golovkin, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz—watched the dramatic finish, underscoring the fight’s profile.
Usyk’s win preserves his undisputed status across three major belts and sets immediate questions about mandatory defences and potential unification or big‑ticket rematches.
For Verhoeven, the performance raised his boxing credentials and likely earned him a fast rematch or other high‑profile bouts.
Promoters, sanctioning bodies and networks will now decide next steps: medical clearances, rematch clauses, purse bids and scheduling. Expect formal announcements in the coming days.
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