Oleksandr Usyk walked away with his undefeated record intact, but his latest victory over Rico Verhoeven has sparked heavy debate following a controversial finish in Egypt.
Fighting in front of the Pyramids of Giza for the WBC heavyweight title, “The Cat” secured a technical knockout at 2:59 of Round 11. However, the timing of the stoppage has quickly become the biggest talking point of the night.
Verhoeven, competing in just his second professional boxing bout, delivered a surprisingly competitive performance against one of the sport’s most accomplished champions. With constant movement, size, and physical pressure, the Dutchman troubled Usyk for long stretches of the fight.
In fact, heading into the championship rounds, many observers believed “King of Kickboxing” was either ahead or well within reach on the scorecards. Open scoring only added to the intrigue, as all three judges had the fight deadlocked at 76-76 after eight rounds.
The challenger’s approach was clear. He targeted the body consistently, used his weight advantage in close exchanges, and disrupted Usyk’s rhythm with an awkward, mobile style. While Usyk had his moments, including a sharp uppercut in Round 4, Verhoeven repeatedly answered back and built momentum in the middle rounds.
That momentum appeared to carry into the later stages until Round 11 changed everything.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, Usyk landed a clean uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. The former kickboxing champion beat the count and got back to his feet, visibly shaken but still responsive. As the action resumed, Usyk pressed forward with a flurry of punches.
Here’s where the controversy erupted.
Despite “King of Kickboxing” remaining upright, with his guard partially intact and attempting to defend himself, the referee stepped in and waved off the fight with just one second left in the round. The abrupt stoppage immediately drew protests from Verhoeven and his corner, who believed he was denied the chance to survive the final moments and recover between rounds.
Given how close the fight appeared to be, the decision left many questioning whether Verhoeven was unfairly robbed of a potential historic upset.
“The Cat” improves to 25-0 with the victory, further cementing his legacy as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Verhoeven, now 1-1 in boxing, exits with his stock arguably rising despite the loss.
In the aftermath, talk of a rematch has already surfaced, with interest building in giving Verhoeven another opportunity following a performance that exceeded nearly all expectations, even if it ended under a cloud of controversy.