Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk kept hold of his world titles after a dramatic and controversial win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt, but the ending left boxing fans arguing long after the final bell.
The fight, held near the famous Pyramids of Giza, was expected to be another comfortable victory for Usyk. Instead, it turned into one of the toughest nights of his career.
Verhoeven, known mainly for his kickboxing success, shocked many people with his fearless performance. Even though this was only his second professional boxing match, the Dutch fighter looked confident from the opening rounds and caused real problems for the unbeaten Ukrainian champion.
Usyk struggled to find his rhythm early in the fight. Verhoeven used his size, pressure, and aggressive combinations to push the champion backwards several times. Some unofficial scorecards even had Verhoeven leading as the fight entered the later rounds.
The turning point finally came in round 11.
Usyk landed a sharp right uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. The Dutch fighter managed to get back to his feet before the count ended, but the referee stepped in almost immediately to stop the contest with only seconds left in the round.
That decision quickly became the biggest talking point of the night.
Many fans and analysts believed the stoppage came too early because Verhoeven was still standing and appeared ready to continue. His corner was furious, while social media exploded with debate over whether the referee saved Usyk from a possible upset defeat.
After the fight, Verhoeven admitted he disagreed with the stoppage but stayed respectful in defeat.
He said he wanted the chance to “go out on his shield” and fight until the end. Despite the disappointment, he thanked Usyk for giving him the opportunity and said he would welcome a rematch in the future.
Usyk also praised his opponent after the fight and admitted it had been a difficult contest. The Ukrainian champion improved his unbeaten record to 25 professional wins and once again showed his ability to survive under pressure.
Attention is now turning toward what comes next for Usyk. Reports suggest unbeaten German heavyweight Agit Kabayel could be the next challenger, although many fans are already calling for a second fight with Verhoeven because of the controversial finish.
No matter what happens next, this fight will be remembered as one of the most surprising heavyweight battles in recent years — and one that nearly produced a historic upset.
