Printed On 24 Might 2026
Ukraine’s unbeaten heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has stopped Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with one second left within the penultimate spherical of a WBC title struggle to keep away from one of many biggest boxing upsets of all time.
The “Glory in Giza” struggle, held on the pyramids of Egypt on Saturday, was thought of a mismatch, however Verhoeven, whose sole earlier skilled boxing struggle was 12 years in the past, tore up the script in mind-boggling style from the opening bell.
It took till the fourth for Usyk to have a spherical that was clearly his, however the champion was unable to capitalise on it with the greater and heavier Verhoeven nonetheless taking the struggle to him.
With Usyk tipping the scales heavier than ever earlier than and searching unusually torpid at instances, the 39-year-old went into the penultimate spherical needing to drag one thing out of the bag to make sure of a win most had taken with no consideration.
Scorecards printed by The Ring journal afterwards confirmed two of the three judges had the struggle tied 95-95 going into the Eleventh of 12 rounds and the opposite had Verhoeven forward 96-94.
The decisive second got here proper on the finish when Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a proper uppercut and the Dutchman beat the ten rely however not the referee, who stepped in to wave off additional punishment.
The ring announcer timed the stoppage at two minutes and 59 seconds of spherical 11.
“I believed it was an early stoppage, however in the long run, it’s lower than me,” Verhoeven, 37, informed DAZN. “The referee is aware of that we’re virtually on the finish of the spherical, so let me exit on my defend or let the bell go.
“However you already know, … I used to be already tremendous grateful for the chance as effectively,” he added whereas pitching for a rematch.
Shock averted
Verhoeven was preventing just for the WBC belt with Usyk risking additionally the lack of his WBA and IBF ones, which might have been declared vacant titles had he been crushed.
In the long run, the 39-year-old Ukrainian prolonged his report to 25 unbeaten fights and retained all three titles.
“This struggle was arduous. It was a superb struggle. I used to be simply boxing, my proper uppercut, bang. Bang, bang, bang. Thanks, God,” he mentioned with Britain’s former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Hollywood motion star Jason Statham within the crowd.
“Proper now in Ukraine, my individuals and my nation – there’s bombing. My persons are sitting in bomb shelters. My household. My daughter despatched me a message: ‘Papa, I really like you. You win. I’m afraid.’ I mentioned, ‘Oh my God.’”
Victory for Verhoeven would have been one of many largest shocks within the sport’s historical past, surpassing Mike Tyson’s 1990 defeat by journeyman James “Buster” Douglas.
Usyk, a 2012 Olympic champion and consummate skilled, had been anticipated to wrap issues up by the half-distance, a minimum of within the estimation of some specialists. Others anticipated an excellent earlier victory.
Verhoeven did his ring stroll within the open-air area as a pharaoh, flanked by others holding flaming torches with the pyramids illuminated behind them.
Usyk adopted a extra gladiatorial look, carrying a golden helmet and the outfit of a Roman centurion as fireworks lit up the evening sky. However the struggle was certainly one of his hardest, and he struggled to cope with an ungainly opponent who hit arduous and confirmed few indicators of crumbling.
“Thanks a lot, Rico. You might be a tremendous fighter,” Usyk mentioned.
