Oleksandr Usyk STOPS Rico Verhoeven: Result and reaction as champion controversially edges past kickboxing legend

Oleksandr Usyk controversially stopped Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round in their Glory in Giza dust-up.

Boxing’s biggest stars, including Anthony Joshua, Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, flew to Egypt for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title defence against Dutch kickboxing icon Verhoeven.

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And they were almost present to witness the biggest boxing upset in history.

Verhoeven was level on two of the judges scorecards and up on one having outfought his Ukrainian opponent.

But he was dropped in the 11th round following a brutal right uppercut.

And while he got to his feet, he was on the end of a flurry of punches, with the referee jumping in to wave off the fight despite next to no time being left before the bell rang.

Usyk has now improved his record to 25-0, and could now face Verhoeven in a rematch, while Agit Kabayel entered the ring to demand a fight next.

Usyk vs Verhoeven: Results

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• Oleksandr Usyk def. Rico Verhoeven R11 KO – Defended WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles
• Hamzah Sheeraz def. Alem Begic R2 KO – Won WBO Super-middleweight title
• Jack Catterall def. Shakhram Giyasov UD – Welterweight
• Frank Sanchez def. Richard Torrez Jr R2 KO – Heavyweight
• Mizuki Hiruta def. Mai Soliman UD – Defended WBO Super-flyweight title
• Benjamin Mendes Tani def. Daniel Lapin R4 KO – Light-heavyweight

Prelims

• Jamar Talley def. Basem Mamdouh R2 KO – Cruiserweight
• Sultan Almohammed def. Dedy Imprax R1 KO – Lightweight
• Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya def. Ali Sserunkuma UD – Super-lightweight
• Omar Hikal def. Michael Kalyalya R3 KO – Welterweight