Ukrainian heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk maintained his undefeated record after a controversial referee stoppage in his World Boxing Council (WBC) title fight against Rico Verhoeven. The bout took place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Usyk Drops Verhoeven in the 11th Round
Usyk knocked down Verhoeven in the 11th round, but Verhoeven managed to beat the 10-count. However, the referee still halted the bout at the 2:59 mark, with only one second left in the round.
“This fight was hard. It’s a good fight. I was just boxing. My right uppercut, bomb. Thank you, God,” said Usyk, whose record improved to 25-0 with 16 knockouts.
Verhoeven Questions the Stoppage
Verhoeven expressed his dissatisfaction with the early stoppage, especially given the timing. “I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it’s not up to me,” the 37-year-old Verhoeven said. “The referee knows that we are almost at the end of the round, so either let me go out on my shield or let the bell go.”
Scorecards Reveal Controversy
According to scorecards released by Ring magazine after the fight, two of the three judges scored the bout a 95-95 draw, while the third judge had Verhoeven ahead, 96-94. The controversial stoppage has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike.
