Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title on May 23, 2026, defeating Rico Verhoeven via a dramatic late TKO at the Pyramids of Giza. Despite entering the ring as a heavy underdog, the Dutch former kickboxing champion pushed Usyk to the brink before the referee halted the contest at 2:59 of the 11th round.
The victory ensures Usyk remains the unified king of the division, though the competitive nature of the fight against a boxing novice has surprised many observers in Egypt.
The weigh-in on May 22 established the physical narrative of the bout, with Oleksandr Usyk tipping the scales at a career-heaviest 233.3 lbs. Verhoeven, the longtime GLORY Heavyweight World Champion, utilized his natural frame to clock in at 258.7 lbs.
This 25-pound disparity defined much of the early action, as the “King of Kickboxing” used his size to disrupt the champion’s rhythm in what many considered a historic moment for boxing in the region.
The fight itself defied pre-match expectations of a mismatch. While Usyk eventually found the breakthrough, the contest was tightly contested through ten rounds. Verhoeven’s performance was so effective that DAZN News reported a scorecard of 98-92 in favor of the Dutchman at the time of the stoppage. This suggests that at least one perspective saw Verhoeven leading comfortably before Usyk’s decisive 11th-round surge.
Oleksandr Usyk secures late stoppage after heavyweight struggle
Usyk’s tactical intelligence eventually overcame Verhoeven’s physical presence in the penultimate round. The Ukrainian champion landed a flurry of heavy punches that sent Verhoeven to the canvas late in the frame. Although the challenger beat the count, the referee waved the fight off as Usyk pounced to finish the job, ending the bout just one second before the 11th-round bell.
The stoppage has sparked significant debate within the boxing community. Verhoeven expressed his disappointment to DAZN immediately following the result. “I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven stated.
“I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th. I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards.”
Despite the frustration, the Dutch fighter’s transition to the ring was lauded by fans and media alike. Prior to this bout, Verhoeven had only one professional boxing match on his record, which occurred 12 years ago. His ability to compete with a pound-for-pound star like Usyk has led to immediate talk of a sequel, with Verhoeven revealing that Usyk has already offered him a rematch.
Championship results and undercard weights from Giza
The event featured several high-stakes title fights beneath the main event. Hamzah Sheeraz claimed the vacant WBO super middleweight title by knocking out Alem Begic at 2:33 of the third round. Sheeraz, who weighed in at 167.9 lbs compared to Begic’s 166.9 lbs, continues his rise as a major force in the division.
His performance comes amid a busy period for the weight class, where David Benavidez has rejected other bouts to focus on elite targets.
In the welterweight division, Jack Catterall became the WBA (Regular) champion with a dominant unanimous decision over Shakhram Giyasov. The judges scored the bout 119-108, 118-109, and 116-111 for Catterall, who weighed in at 146.8 lbs. Following his victory, Jack Catterall called out Rolando Romero for his first title defense, signaling his intent to stay active at 147 lbs.
Other results from the night included Mizuki Hiruta defending her WBO super flyweight title against Mai Soliman via unanimous decision. Frank Sanchez also made a statement by knocking out Richard Torrez Jr. in the second round. Torrez had weighed 229.5 lbs at the scale, but could not withstand the power of Sanchez, who weighed 240.4 lbs.
Heavyweight implications following the Pyramids clash
While Usyk remains undefeated and keeps his WBC belt, the fight has raised questions about the champion’s vulnerability to larger, physical opponents. The Ukrainian appeared more susceptible to Verhoeven’s pressure than many anticipated. This performance may influence the strategy of future challengers, particularly as the division awaits the potential resolution of other major promotional deadlocks.
Verhoeven exits the ring with his reputation significantly enhanced. “I am super proud of my performance and hopefully the boxing world embraces me as a boxer,” he said. By leading on a reported scorecard against the unified champion, Verhoeven has established himself as a legitimate contender rather than a cross-sport curiosity.
A rematch would likely draw even larger interest given the controversial nature of the 11th-round intervention.
The success of the event in Egypt marks a shift in how major heavyweight boxing is staged. Holding a world title fight at the Pyramids of Giza provided a unique atmosphere that resonated globally on the DAZN platform.
As the sport moves into the second half of 2026, the focus returns to whether Usyk will pursue further unifications or grant Verhoeven the second chance it appears has been promised.
