Oleksandr Usyk, 39, of Ukraine narrowly avoided what would have been the most shocking upset in boxing history in an electric atmosphere set against the historic backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. On May 23, 2026, the three-time undisputed champion successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, 37, of the Netherlands though the victory was marred by intense debate surrounding a late-round stoppage.
The victory improved Usyk’s professional boxing record to 25 wins and 0 loss. Verhoeven now has 1 win and 1 loss as a professional boxer but he has 66 wins and 10 losses as a professional kickboxer and 1 win and 1 loss as a professional mixed martial artist.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven
Entering the ring as a massive betting favorite, Usyk faced an opponent who brought unique challenges to the table. Verhoeven celebrated for his historic reign as the Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion for 4,220 days, utilized his significant 25-pound weight advantage and unorthodox, jerky movement to frustrate the Ukrainian champion throughout the first half of the bout. While Usyk appeared sluggish and struggled to track down the relentless challenger, Verhoeven capitalized on his physical prowess, landing stinging power punches that left the champion struggling to find his rhythm.
The momentum began to shift in the second half of the contest as a composed Usyk started to calibrate his timing. By Round 11, the tension was palpable; the fight was agonizingly close, with two judges scoring it 95-95 and the third favoring Verhoeven 96-94. Just as the upset seemed within reach, Usyk unleashed the right uppercut he had been setting up all night. The blow sent Verhoeven to the canvas, his mouthguard flying from the impact.
Although the kickboxer rose to his feet on unsteady legs with roughly ten seconds remaining in the round, he was quickly pinned in the corner and subjected to a fierce barrage of punches from the champion. Referee Mark Lyson controversially intervened, waving off the fight at 2:59 of the 11th round—a decision that many felt cut the contest short prematurely.
Despite the controversy, the statistics highlight the razor-thin margins of the fight, with both men landing exactly 22% of their total punch attempts. Following the bout, an exhausted but relieved Usyk acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge, while the boxing world is now left to speculate on the champion’s next move. With options for a potential rematch against the formidable Verhoeven or a clash with Agit Kabayel on the horizon, the pound-for-pound king remains undefeated, though his aura of invincibility was tested as never before in the Egyptian desert.
CONAN Daily 