Oleksandr Usyk avoids biggest upset defeat in boxing history with controversial late stoppage of Rico Verhoeven

May 24, 2026 - 00:45

Oleksandr Usyk avoided one of the biggest upsets in boxing history by an absolute whisker.

Unified world champion Usyk took on kickboxing legend Verhoeven in what was a shock fight, but a historic event at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Rico Verhoeven punching Oleksandr Usyk — Usyk beat Verhoeven and forced a stoppage in the penultimate round to avoid one of the biggest upsets in history

Usyk couldn’t cope with Verhoeven, a kickboxer with spirit and courage, who nearly became the first to ever tame him

Usyk had of course the experience and odds in his favour as the gifted and undefeated champion.

Verhoeven is one of the greatest in another sport in kickboxing, but was facing a near impossible task to try and surmount the challenge.

Victory for the Dutchman gave him the opportunity to record one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.

A stunned silence took over the historic event as round by round, Verhoeven put on one of the most remarkable and unlikely performances of all-time.

Usyk simply couldn’t get going and match the fast-moving powerhouse, who looked like an immovable force as he eyed history.

But incredibly he upped the ante and managed to drop Verhoeven to the canvas in the penultimate round.

Somehow he avoided the historic defeat, with the referee stepping in perhaps prematurely to halt the contest with Verhoeven on his feet in the eleventh round.

The Dutchman’s corner were fuming and felt he still had more to give, but the kickboxer’s performance will go down in the history books forever and ever.

Many from the boxing world branded the stoppage a ‘robbery’ and there was significant backlash in global reaction.

Verhoeven’s reaction to the stoppage

When reacting to how the fight ended, Verhoeven said in his post-fight interview: “Yeah I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me.

Verhoeven was denied with just three minutes left, but his legacy will now live on forever

“But still, I thought it was a little bit early. I thought the referee knows that we’re nearly at the end of the round.

“So let me go out on my shield or let the bell go. But it’s not up to me, and I was already super thankful for the opportunity.”

Verhoeven defied all odds and left the boxing world speechless, and is being vindicated in his aggrievances with the officials.

But luckily he will come again, and will no doubt be given further opportunities after his mind-blowing performance.

Usyk vs Verhoeven – how it happened

Usyk and Verhoeven made epic gladiatorial ring walks, summing up the historic setting in style.

Verhoeven seemingly had nothing but pride to fight for but he started like a man possessed

Usyk couldn’t cope with the Dutch giant’s size and aggression, who put on a clinic in just his second boxing fight

The Dutchman was trying to move freely early on with a unique and bizarre style, and a right hand through the guard in the opening round drew a gasp from the crowd.

Usyk was simply finding his range and taking his time but it was certainly a positive start from the tricky Dutchman.

It was a remarkable start for the unlikely challenger who appeared to be ahead after three rounds, but it felt like the boxing champion was only leaving first gears in spells.

Verhoeven continued to push on with a brilliant display and was causing real problems with his variation, but Usyk found his range in the fourth.

Still the kickboxer remarkably looked well within the fight and comfortable as the halfway point approached, keeping up his sensational tempo and rhythm.

Many had Verhoeven several rounds ahead, as the prospect of this incredible display ending in a seismic upset edged surprisingly closer.

Usyk even switched to southpaw as the struggles started to be visible for all to see, with Verhoeven sensing his opportunity again in the seventh.

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Incredibly in the eighth, Verhoeven was landing with some bumper shots on Usyk and the Ukrainian needed to wake up to have a chance of victory.

The time ticked on and the champion was starting to need a late flurry for the ages to take out the kickboxing legend, who was on the verge of a feat like never before.

We approached the championship rounds and Verhoeven is right in the mix, but Usyk was stepping up the tempo and trying to impress the judges against the invincible object.

It was an uppercut which turned the tide in the eleventh period and sent Verhoeven tumbling to the canvas.

Fans in the arena felt like the show would close as Usyk piled the pressure on but Verhoeven held his own and tried to fire back.

But as the onslaught continued, the referee stopped it, and most weren’t too impressed with little time left.

There was just seconds till the claxon, and one of the most incredible moments in sporting folklore was denied at short notice.

Despite so much criticism, it is a night that will always be etched on the minds of the current boxing public.

It was a night that will travel through generations and far and wide, but unfortunately for Verhoeven, the boxing gods denied him a fairytale.

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