Oleksandr Usyk retains WBC heavyweight title via controversial stoppage over Rico Verhoeven
Consensus Summary
Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title by stopping Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round at the Pyramids of Giza on May 21, 2026, in a fight that ended controversially with one second left. Verhoeven, a former kickboxer making his second professional boxing appearance in 12 years, dominated early rounds and had two judges scoring the fight tied or in his favor going into the final stretch. The referee intervened after Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a right uppercut, sparking outrage from Verhoeven’s camp, who believed the bell had already rung. Verhoeven demanded an apology and a rematch, calling himself the 'uncrowned king,' while Usyk referenced Ukraine’s war, citing emotional support from his daughter in a bomb shelter. The fight was Usyk’s toughest to date, with Verhoeven’s aggressive style and power challenging the champion’s usual dominance. Both sources agree the stoppage was contentious, though details on scorecards and the exact timing of the bell differ slightly.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Oleksandr Usyk retained the WBC heavyweight championship by stopping Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round (one second before the bell) at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, on 2026-05-21 (fight date inferred from 2026-05-24/28 publication dates).
- The fight was held at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
- Rico Verhoeven, a former kickboxer making his second professional boxing fight (first in 12 years), was the challenger.
- Scorecards published by *The Ring* magazine showed two judges had the fight tied 95-95 and one had Verhoeven ahead 96-94 going into the 11th round.
- Usyk dropped Verhoeven with a right uppercut late in the 11th round, but the referee stopped the fight before Verhoeven could recover and the bell ring.
- Verhoeven expressed disappointment, stating he felt the fight was even or he was ahead on the scorecards and wanted an apology from Usyk or the WBC.
- Usyk referenced Ukraine's war, saying his daughter messaged him from a bomb shelter: *'Papa, I love you, I'm afraid.'*
- Verhoeven’s corner believed he had been saved by the bell, and he thanked Usyk for the opportunity post-fight.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Verhoeven’s team lodged an appeal with the WBC after the fight.
- Verhoeven called himself the 'uncrowned king' and said any rematch would require a 'big' challenger, referencing Germany’s Agit Kabayel as the WBC’s mandatory challenger.
- Verhoeven explicitly demanded an apology from Usyk, saying: *'All I’m looking for actually is: ‘Yeah, sorry guys, this could have gone differently.’*'
- The fight was Verhoeven’s second professional boxing bout since switching from kickboxing.
- Had Usyk lost, his WBA and IBF belts would have been vacated (only the WBC was on the line).
- Verhoeven’s ring walk included a pharaoh-themed entrance with flaming torches, while Usyk wore a Roman centurion helmet.
- The fight was described as one of Usyk’s toughest, with him struggling against Verhoeven’s 'jerky style, bulldozing aggression, and powerful right hand.'
- Usyk’s weight was noted as unusually high, contributing to his sluggishness early in the fight.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian states Verhoeven was ahead on one scorecard (96-94) going into the 11th round, while ABC does not mention scorecard details beyond two judges having the fight tied.
- The Guardian implies the referee’s stoppage may have occurred before the bell actually rang, while ABC and the second Guardian article describe it as a 'last-gasp' stoppage with one second remaining in the round.
Source Articles
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