Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title with a controversial stoppage of Rico Verhoeven with one second left in the 11th round at the pyramids of Giza on Saturday. The unbeaten Ukrainian champion was on the verge of a major upset against the Dutch former kickboxer, who had not fought professionally in 12 years.
Verhoeven, a heavy underdog, dominated large portions of the fight with his awkward style and powerful right hand, leaving Usyk struggling to find his rhythm. The challenger appeared to be ahead on the scorecards before the late-round drama unfolded.
In the 11th round, Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a right hand. Verhoeven beat the count but was met with a flurry of punches, prompting the referee to wave off the contest. Verhoeven questioned the decision: “I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me. I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th.”
Usyk, who had a strong fourth round with an uppercut, struggled to assert his superiority until the final moments. He dedicated the win to Ukraine, saying: “I know right now, Ukrainian people are sitting in the bomb shelter, my daughter too. She sent me a message saying, ‘Papa, I love you, you will win.’” Verhoeven added: “I am super proud of my performance and hopefully the boxing world embraces me as a boxer.”
