Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Rico Verhoeven In Controversial Fight As Boxing World Explodes Over Stoppage
During their second bout of the “Glory in Giza” fight, Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round for a controversial TKO in Egypt. The fight was held at the historic Pyramids of Giza on May 23, 2026, and has been a hot topic in the combat sports community ever since the referee called it quits in the last second of the 11th round.
Usyk officially retained his unified heavyweight titles with the victory, but many fans and fighters believed Verhoeven had either done enough to win or deserved to finish the round before the stoppage.
Rico Verhoeven Nearly Pulls Off Massive Upset
When Usyk came into the fight, he was the heavy favorite thanks to his elite boxing pedigree and heavyweight dominance. Verhoeven, however, impressed many observers with a strong and competitive performance throughout the fight.
He appeared at ease against boxing’s undefeated champ. It seemed that in several rounds, Verhoeven moved better, applied pressure, and utilized combinations to outwork Usyk. Late in the 11th round, Usyk landed a powerful right uppercut that dropped Verhoeven for the fight’s only knockdown. Verhoeven managed to get back to his feet, but the referee stopped the fight moments later, awarding Usyk a TKO victory.
Controversial Ending Sparks Immediate Backlash
The moment instantaneously became the most talked about of the evening. It was a question many fans and analysts had about the referee’s decision to stop the fight so early, since there was barely any time left in the round, and Verhoeven was still standing at the end. There was a huge response on social media from fighters and personalities of all combat sports.
Jake Paul was very critical of the stoppage, noting that Verhoeven had been the victor before the referee stepped in at the last minute. Usyk’s performance drew admiration from many, including fans of Verhoeven, but some, like Paul, questioned whether the late stoppage was the right way to end the fight.
After the bout, Francis Ngannou argued that, usually, the crossover fighter doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt in the ring and that Verhoeven was the better fighter that night. Shakur Stevenson, who was a bit more measured, acknowledged that the stoppage was questionable but also believed that Usyk was starting to get going late in the bout.
Usyk Survives a Serious Scare
The win is still another successful defense of the title for Usyk, regardless of the controversy. The Ukrainian’s performance against Verhoeven was marred by some difficulty with the German’s size, mobility, and physicality, with some describing it as one of the hardest fights of his heavyweight career.
Despite it all, Usyk got it done with his fight-changing uppercut coming at the end of the fight. With the win, Usyk still has the potential to stay the “free agent” of the heavyweight championship, but his future is already getting complicated.
Mandatory Challengers Already Waiting
Agit Kabayel stepped up as the WBC’s mandatory contender for Usyk right after the bout. Meanwhile, Frank Sanchez is a potential mandatory challenger to IBF champion Usyk after some recent heavyweight success.
Prominent boxing figure Turki Al-Sheikh has already called for a matchup between Usyk and Verhoeven to take place as soon as possible, citing the ‘massive controversy’ and ‘high commercial value’ of the bout.
Verhoeven’s Boxing Future Suddenly Bright
Shortly after the fight, Verhoeven’s reputation as a boxer grew even more after losing the bout. The Dutchman later confirmed plans to appeal the stoppage, arguing the decision was made too quickly considering the circumstances of the round.
In addition, Verhoeven said he is not planning on getting back into kickboxing anytime soon. Instead, he seems to be looking to continue his career as a boxer after proving himself a contender at the highest level of the sport.
Assuming there is not an immediate rematch, several big names could be potential opponents for Verhoeven, such as Ngannou or former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua.
Whatever happens next, Verhoeven’s performance against Usyk forever altered perceptions of his boxing potential and made one of the biggest stories in combat sports this year.
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