Oleksandr Usyk successfully retained his WBC heavyweight world championship on Saturday, May 23, 2026, defeating Rico Verhoeven via an 11th-round technical knockout at the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. In the main event of the “Glory in Giza” card, the unified champion overcame a stiff challenge from the former kickboxing standout, with the official stoppage coming at 2:59 of the 11th round. After Oleksandr Usyk dropped his opponent late in the penultimate frame, the referee intervened when the champion pounced on a clearly shaken Rico Verhoeven who had only just beaten the count.
The event, organized by Saudi-backed Sela and The Ring, made history as the first professional boxing match ever held at the ancient Egyptian landmark. For Oleksandr Usyk, the victory also marked his debut appearance in North Africa. While he walked away with his hand raised, the scorecards at the time of the stoppage revealed just how close Rico Verhoeven came to a monumental upset. Through ten completed rounds, two judges had the contest even at 95-95, while the third had the challenger ahead 96-94.
Rico Verhoeven started the bout aggressively, with all three judges — Manuel Oliver Palomo, Pasquale Procopio, and Fabian Guggenheim — awarding him the first two rounds. Although Oleksandr Usyk clawed back to lead 48-47 on all cards by the fifth, the Dutchman surged again in the sixth and seventh. The competitive nature of the fight was mirrored in the final statistics, where Rico Verhoeven actually outlanded the champion by a single punch, 113 to 112. This performance suggests that Verhoeven’s crossover from kickboxing was a masterclass in adapting to the elite level of the sweet science.
Late stoppage saves Usyk from precarious scorecards
The drama reached its peak in the final seconds of the 11th round when Oleksandr Usyk finally broke through Rico Verhoeven’s defenses. Despite the champion’s relentless pressure, Rico Verhoeven expressed his disagreement with the timing of the intervention, stating after the fight that he thought it was an “early stoppage.” However, the referee’s decision remained final, ensuring the Ukrainian did not have to leave the result to the judges’ final tallies. Such a high-stakes finish underscores why the Usyk-Rico Egypt bout was deemed historic by industry leaders like Eddie Hearn.
Oleksandr Usyk now moves to a professional record of 25-0, 16 KOs. While only his WBC world title was on the line for this specific contest, the victory allowed him to also retain his WBA ‘super’ and IBF belts. The atmosphere at the Pyramids provided a backdrop unlike any other in boxing history, further cementing the champion’s legacy as a global ambassador for the sport. And despite the loss, Rico Verhoeven showed he belongs among the elite, proving his durability against a pound-for-pound great.
Glory in Giza full card results
The undercard provided several explosive remains, including two major title shifts. Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0-1, 19 KOs) secured the vacant WBO super-middleweight title by knocking out Germany’s Alem Begic in the second round with a clinical body shot. Meanwhile, Jack Catterall moved his record to 33-2 with a dominant unanimous decision win over Shakhram Giyasov to claim the WBA regular welterweight championship. The full results from the Giza Necropolis are listed below:
- Oleksandr Usyk def. Rico Verhoeven: TKO (Round 11, 2:59). Usyk retains WBC, WBA ‘super’, and IBF heavyweight titles.
- Hamzah Sheeraz def. Alem Begic: KO (Round 2, 2:33). Sheeraz wins vacant WBO super-middleweight title.
- Jack Catterall def. Shakhram Giyasov: Unanimous Decision (119-108, 118-109, 116-111). Catterall wins WBA regular welterweight title.
- Mizuki Hiruta def. Mai Soliman: Unanimous Decision (99-91, 98-92, 98-92). Hiruta retains WBO and Ring female super flyweight titles.
- Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) def. Richard Torrez Jr. (14-0, 12 KOs): TKO (Round 2, 0:55).
- Benjamin Mendes Tani def. Daniel Lapin: TKO (Round 4, 1:35).
The heavyweight clash between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. ended much sooner than many anticipated. Although Torrez Jr. anticipated the Sanchez bout would be a showcase of his technical growth, the “Cuban Flash” made short work of the Olympic silver medalist. Sanchez dropped the American with a powerful right to the face early in the second round, leading to a swift stoppage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was the exact time of the stoppage in Usyk vs. Verhoeven?
The referee stopped the main event at 2:59 of the 11th round. Oleksandr Usyk had dropped Rico Verhoeven late in the round, and after the challenger beat the count, the referee intervened during the follow-up attack just one second before the bell would have ended the frame.
Which world titles were at stake during the Glory in Giza event?
The primary title on the line in the main event was Oleksandr Usyk’s WBC heavyweight world championship. On the undercard, the vacant WBO super-middleweight title was won by Hamzah Sheeraz, while Jack Catterall captured the WBA regular welterweight title by defeating Shakhram Giyasov.
How much did U.S. fans pay for the DAZN pay-per-view?
In the United States, the Glory in Giza event was priced at $59.99 on DAZN. Fans in the United Kingdom were charged £24.99 for the broadcast, which was also available as part of a bundle with the DAZN Ultimate monthly pass.
