Oleksandr Usyk stayed undefeated on Saturday night, but not without controversy, after stopping Rico Verhoeven late in their heavyweight title fight in Egypt.
The event took place in front of the Pyramids of Giza and quickly became one of the wildest crossover combat sports fights of the year.
Where Was the Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Fight?
The heavyweight title fight happened at the historic Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, creating one of the most unique backdrops in modern boxing.
Usyk entered the fight as the undefeated heavyweight champion, while Verhoeven came in as one of the most dominant kickboxers in combat sports history.
How Did Usyk Beat Rico Verhoeven?
For most of the fight, Verhoeven shocked fans by pushing Usyk harder than many expected.
The former GLORY kickboxing champion used pressure, body shots and aggressive combinations to trouble Usyk through multiple rounds. Many observers even believed Verhoeven was leading on the scorecards heading into the championship rounds.
Usyk finally changed the momentum in Round 11.
After absorbing pressure for much of the fight, Usyk landed a brutal uppercut that dropped Verhoeven to the canvas late in the round.
Verhoeven got back to his feet and continued fighting, but moments later the referee stepped in and stopped the contest with just seconds remaining in the round.
Why Was the Stoppage Controversial?
The ending immediately sparked debate across combat sports.
Many fans, commentators and even members of Verhoeven’s corner believed the referee stopped the fight too early, especially considering there was almost no time left in the round.
Broadcast commentators reacted in disbelief during the stoppage, with one calling it a “disaster averted” for Usyk.
Verhoeven was visibly hurt but still standing when the referee jumped in to stop the action.
Rico Verhoeven Nearly Pulled Off a Historic Upset
Coming into the fight, many people viewed Verhoeven as a massive underdog because of Usyk’s elite boxing pedigree.
Instead, the Dutch kickboxing legend looked calm, technical and dangerous throughout the bout.
Verhoeven repeatedly landed hard right hands, body shots and combinations while forcing Usyk backwards for stretches of the fight.
The performance surprised many boxing fans watching around the world and immediately sparked discussion about a possible rematch.
What Did Oleksandr Usyk Say After the Fight?
After the win, Usyk praised Verhoeven’s toughness and performance.
“Rico, you’re an amazing fighter,” Usyk said after the fight.
Despite the controversy, the victory allowed Usyk to remain undefeated and retain his heavyweight titles.
Will There Be a Rematch?
A rematch already appears possible.
Reports following the fight stated there was immediate interest in running the bout back, potentially in the Netherlands, after the dramatic ending and competitive nature of the fight.
Given how close Verhoeven came to one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, many fans are already calling for a second fight.
