Usyk stops Rico Verhoeven in a disputed 11th round in Giza
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fight | Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven |
| Date | Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| Location | Giza, Egypt |
| Result | Usyk TKO 11 (disputed) |
| Scores at stoppage | 95-95, 95-95, 96-94 Verhoeven |
| Title | WBC heavyweight (Usyk retained) |
Oleksandr Usyk kept his WBC heavyweight title on May 23, 2026 in Giza, Egypt, stopping Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round. The result was immediately disputed: the referee waved the fight off after the round-ending bell had sounded.
Verhoeven, the long-reigning Glory heavyweight kickboxing champion, was level or ahead on the scorecards at the stoppage: two judges had it 95-95 and the third 96-94 for Verhoeven.
Why the ending was controversial
Under most commissions’ rules, a referee can stop a fight at any time to protect a fighter, including at the bell. But a stoppage after the bell rang — with the fighter able to return to his corner — is unusual, and with the scorecards even or in Verhoeven’s favour, the timing changed the result. Had the fight continued and gone to the cards, a draw or a Verhoeven win were both possible.
| Judge | Score after 10 rounds |
|---|---|
| Judge 1 | 95-95 |
| Judge 2 | 95-95 |
| Judge 3 | 96-94 Verhoeven |
Our take
Verhoeven’s performance was the story, regardless of the ending. A kickboxer with limited professional boxing experience took the best heavyweight of his generation into the 11th round and was level or ahead on every card. It is one of the most remarkable crossover performances in boxing history.
The ending is a mark against the officiating, not against Usyk, who was the aggressor late in the fight. A rematch would be justified, but Usyk vacated his belts a month later, and a second fight would have to be built without a title on the line.
See more of 2026’s biggest fights on our boxing mega fights page.
Crossover fights in context
Fights between champions from different combat sports have a mixed history. Most are commercial events in which the boxer is heavily favoured; Verhoeven’s performance stands out because he made it a genuinely competitive boxing match against the best heavyweight of his era.
| Factor | Usyk | Verhoeven |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Olympic and undisputed boxing champion | Long-reigning Glory heavyweight kickboxing champion |
| Boxing experience | Elite amateur and professional career | Limited professional boxing |
| Size | Former cruiserweight | Natural heavyweight |
| Outcome | TKO 11 (after the bell) | Level or ahead on all cards at the stoppage |
What happened next
A month after the fight, Usyk vacated his WBA, WBC and IBF titles. Verhoeven’s stock rose sharply; a return to boxing against another top heavyweight would now be a significant event in its own right.