Oleksandr Usyk defended his WBC, WBA, and IBF belts in the heavyweight division, stopping Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with a technical knockout in the 11th round. The fight took place in the early morning of May 24, 2026, in the open air at the foot of the pyramids in Giza — and ended in a scandal that instantly overshadowed the victory itself.
Controversial Finish: Fight Stopped After the Bell
Going into the 11th round, two of three judges had it even or in favor of Verhoeven. Usyk fought as the second aggressor, relying on mobility and counterattacks, while the Dutchman constantly pressed, trying to pin the champion against the ropes. In the decisive round, Usyk sent Verhoeven down with an uppercut, after which the referee stopped the fight — but according to critics, after the final bell had already sounded.
"Terrible referee work — stopping the fight after the bell"
— trainer-analyst Teddy Atlas
Verhoeven called the stoppage premature and immediately filed an official protest. His trainer openly called for a rematch. Jake Paul wrote on social media that Usyk lost on points. Promoter Oleksandr Krassyuk reacted differently: "Boxing got a new icon — bravo, Rico".
Verhoeven: 49 Wins in Kickboxing, One Boxing Fight Before Usyk
The Dutchman's record in professional boxing before the fight was 1-0, and that single bout in 2014 was against an opponent with a 0-5 record. Verhoeven built his main career in kickboxing, where he came to the show with a 49-8 record and a streak of 22 consecutive victories. Two weeks before the fight with Usyk, he was still competing at Glory 100, defeating Artem Vakhitov by unanimous decision.
The WBC created an exclusive belt specifically for this evening — the "King of the Nile" — which went to Usyk along with a championship chain with diamonds and emeralds worth approximately $40,000.
"My Daughter Wrote to Me: Daddy, You'll Win"
After the result was announced, Usyk said into the microphone that while the fight was going on, Russia was attacking Kyiv. His daughter was writing to him from a shelter. These few words spread across the network faster than the fight highlights themselves — and reminded people of the context in which all of the Ukrainian's victories over the past four years have taken place.
- The WBA and IBF belts would not have gone to Verhoeven even if he had won — the Dutchman is not ranked by these organizations.
- The WBC — the only title that was actually on the line for both fighters.
- Usyk came into the fight after his rematch with Dubois in July 2025 — and maintained his streak of 24 consecutive professional victories.
Verhoeven's official protest has already been filed. If the WBC reviews it and finds the stoppage incorrect — the fight result could theoretically be overturned. If not, the rematch question moves to negotiations: Verhoeven proved he was capable of dominating Usyk on the scorecards for ten out of eleven rounds, and that is the strongest argument for a new contract.
