Usyk Survives Stunning Scare, Stops Verhoeven in 11th as Controversy Erupts at Glory in Giza

Oleksandr Usyk escaped one of the most improbable upsets in boxing history Saturday night, stopping Rico Verhoeven with one second remaining in the 11th round to retain his Ring Magazine and unified heavyweight world titles at the “Glory in Giza” event in Egypt. The fight has since ignited a storm of controversy, with Verhoeven filing an official protest and social media exploding under the trending hashtag #UsykRico.

Usyk, who entered the bout at 24-0 with 15 knockouts, extended his unbeaten record to 25-0, though he did so in the most uncomfortable fashion of his illustrious career. The Ukrainian southpaw, widely considered the best heavyweight in the world and The Ring’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, was repeatedly outworked and outmaneuvered by Verhoeven throughout the contest. The former Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion, who compiled a record of 66-10 with 21 knockouts in kickboxing before transitioning to boxing, proved to be a far more dangerous opponent than many had anticipated heading into fight week.

A Fight That Nearly Rewrote History

Through the first ten rounds, Verhoeven controlled large portions of the fight with his aggression, awkwardness, and disciplined defensive work. Two of the three judges, Manuel Oliver Palomo and Fabian Guggenheim, had the bout scored 95-95 at the time of the stoppage, while judge Pasquale Procopio had Verhoeven leading 96-94. The Dutch challenger was on the verge of securing a draw, and with one round remaining, he would have needed a knockdown to force that outcome.

The pivotal moment arrived with approximately 20 seconds left in the 11th round. Usyk landed a right uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. The challenger rose on unsteady legs, spitting out his mouthpiece as he walked to his corner. When referee Mark Lyson restarted the action, Usyk swarmed Verhoeven with a punch flurry while the Dutchman tried to fight back rather than clinch and survive. As the bell signaled the end of the round, Lyson stepped in and stopped the contest. The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion had done it with literally one second to spare.

According to CompuBox punch statistics, the fight was remarkably even throughout. Usyk landed 112 of 499 total punches while Verhoeven connected on 113 of 508. Usyk held a narrow 23-20 advantage in jabs landed, while Verhoeven edged him 93-89 in power punches. The numbers underscored just how competitive the bout was from start to finish.

Verhoeven Files Official Protest

Verhoeven made clear immediately after the fight that he believed the stoppage was premature, and he has since made it official. In a post on his Instagram story, the Dutchman confirmed that a formal protest had been filed. “Official protest has been filed on our way to the airport,” Verhoeven wrote. “Rules only matter if they are applied when it matters most.” He had also expressed his dissatisfaction in his post-fight interview, saying, “I thought it was an early stoppage but at the end, it’s not up to me. I found it a little bit early. I believe the referee knows we’re almost at the end of the round, let me go out on my shield or let the bell go.”

Trainer Peter Fury echoed Verhoeven’s sentiments, publicly stating that his fighter deserves a rematch with Usyk. Meanwhile, Verhoeven himself has expressed openness to a second encounter, though he acknowledged the decision ultimately rests with others. Should the protest prove successful in some form, the boxing landscape at heavyweight could shift significantly ahead of what was already shaping up to be a busy second half of 2026.

What Comes Next for Usyk

Despite the controversy, Usyk acknowledged in his post-fight remarks that the fight was genuinely difficult. “This fight was hard,” he said. “He did good to prepare. It was a good fight.” The champion’s immediate future, however, may hinge on competing mandatory obligations rather than a rematch with Verhoeven.

Agit Kabayel, The Ring’s No. 2-ranked heavyweight and the WBC mandatory challenger, was in the ring following the bout and called for his shot at the unified champion, which Usyk verbally agreed to. Kabayel, who is unbeaten at 27-0 with 19 knockouts, is promoted by Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren. Warren made clear he would push back firmly against any Usyk-Verhoeven rematch delaying Kabayel’s opportunity. “They’re talking about maybe doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico. We’re not going to stand for that,” Warren told Sky Sports. “Usyk’s been there long enough, and he wants his moment, and that’s what we’ll be pushing for with WBC.” Kabayel’s manager Spencer Brown suggested a possible European stadium show in Germany in late September or early October as a realistic timeline for the matchup.

Whether the WBC ultimately forces a Kabayel title shot, whether a Usyk-Verhoeven rematch is ordered, or whether the formal protest filed by Verhoeven alters the course of events remains to be seen. What is certain is that the heavyweight division has rarely been more compelling, and Saturday night’s dramatic finish in Egypt has only added to the intrigue. Usyk remains undefeated and undisputed, but for a few frightening moments in the Egyptian night, the entire boxing world was reminded that even the best fighters in the world can be pushed to the absolute limit.