Usyk Survives Verhoeven Scare with Dramatic 11th-Round TKO in Egypt

Under the shadow of the pyramids of Giza, Oleksandr Usyk narrowly escaped one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing history. The undefeated heavyweight champion overcame a surprisingly dangerous challenge from kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, scoring a controversial 11th-round TKO after a dramatic late rally in a fight that left fans, judges, and Verhoeven’s corner furious over the stoppage.

At the time the fight was waved off, two judges had the bout even at 95-95, while a third judge favored Verhoeven 96-94. With the possibility of defeat looming, Usyk delivered the decisive moment in the closing seconds of Round 11, landing a crushing right uppercut that sent Verhoeven crashing to the canvas.

The Dutchman beat the count and rose on unsteady legs with only seconds remaining. Usyk immediately unleashed a barrage of punches, forcing referee Mark Lyson to intervene at 2:59 of the round a stoppage many believed came after the bell had already sounded.

“The fight was hard,” Usyk said afterward. “But I just boxed. It was my right uppercut. Bam!”

For much of the night, however, the 39-year-old champion looked far from dominant.

Verhoeven, widely regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers ever and the longtime Glory heavyweight champion, used awkward movement, constant pressure, and heavy right hands to frustrate Usyk early. Despite entering the bout with only one professional boxing match on his résumé, Verhoeven appeared surprisingly comfortable against one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.

The size difference was impossible to ignore. Verhoeven entered the ring at 258.7 pounds compared to Usyk’s 233.3, and he used every bit of that advantage by charging forward relentlessly and forcing the smaller champion backward.

Usyk struggled to establish rhythm during the opening rounds as Verhoeven’s jerky movement disrupted his timing. Though the Ukrainian repeatedly looked for the uppercut, Verhoeven’s pressure prevented him from settling into his trademark technical style.

In Round 3, it briefly appeared the fight might end early when Usyk connected with a sharp uppercut that badly hurt Verhoeven. But the Dutchman survived and continued pressing forward, showing remarkable durability and confidence against the heavily favored champion.

As the fight wore on, tension inside the venue grew. What was expected to be a showcase for Usyk instead became a grueling, competitive battle. Verhoeven continued landing right hands and matching Usyk punch-for-punch, raising the very real possibility of a historic upset. By the championship rounds, Usyk finally began finding answers.

The uppercut he had been setting up all night landed perfectly in Round 11, launching Verhoeven’s mouthguard into the air and dropping him heavily to the canvas. After a delayed restart while the referee replaced the mouthguard, Usyk swarmed his exhausted opponent with unanswered punches until the fight was stopped.

Statistically, the contest was razor close. Usyk landed 112 of 499 punches, while Verhoeven connected on 113 of 508 both fighters landing at an identical 22 percent rate. The controversial finish immediately sparked protests from Verhoeven’s corner, who argued their fighter deserved the chance to survive the final seconds and continue into the 12th round.

“I thought it was an early stoppage,” Verhoeven said. “The referee knows we’re almost at the end of the round. Let me go out on my shield or let the bell go. But it’s not up to me.”

Later that night, Verhoeven hinted on social media that he may appeal the result, claiming the stoppage occurred after the bell sounded. For Usyk, the victory preserved both his undefeated record and his legacy, though it also exposed vulnerabilities rarely seen during his reign atop the heavyweight division. After dominating names like Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk entered the fight as a massive betting favorite and defended his decision to face a kickboxer despite criticism beforehand.

“For the first time, I am doing what I really want to do,” Usyk told ESPN before the fight. “Not what I must do and not what people expect from me.”

That freedom nearly cost him everything. Following the bout, Usyk was presented with two possible next opponents: a rematch with Verhoeven or a showdown against rising heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel.Usyk welcomed both possibilities with characteristic confidence.

“Not a problem,” he said. “Let’s do it.”