Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title with a controversial 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven at the pyramids of Giza on Saturday. The Ukrainian champion, previously unbeaten, was given a severe test by the Dutch former kickboxer, who had not fought professionally in 12 years.
Verhoeven, widely considered a mismatch, dominated large portions of the fight with a jerky style and powerful right hand, troubling a sluggish Usyk from the opening bell. He appeared on course for a major upset until the dramatic final moments of the penultimate round.
With one second remaining in the 11th, Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a flush right hand. The challenger beat the count, but the referee waved off the fight as Usyk unleashed a barrage, despite the bell being imminent. Verhoeven expressed his disappointment, telling DAZN: 'I thought it was an early stoppage... I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th.'
Verhoeven, who started strongly and landed vicious right hands in the first round, said he was proud of his performance and hoped the boxing world would embrace him. He revealed that Usyk had offered a rematch.
Usyk, dedicating the win to his family and Ukraine, acknowledged the difficulty of the contest: 'This fight was hard. It was a good fight.' He also mentioned his daughter's message from a bomb shelter: 'Papa, I love you, you will win.'
