Oleksandr Usyk held onto his WBC heavyweight title with an eleventh‑round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven in front of the Pyramids of Giza on Saturday night. The setting was historic, but the fight itself turned into a far more dramatic contest than many expected. Verhoeven, a longtime GLORY kickboxing champion with only one prior professional boxing bout, pushed Usyk in ways few heavyweights have managed. For long stretches, Verhoeven’s pressure, size, and body work created real problems for the champion.
Usyk gradually adjusted as the rounds progressed, finding more openings as Verhoeven’s movement slowed. In the final half‑minute of Round 11, Usyk landed a clean right uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. Verhoeven rose but was visibly unsteady, and Usyk pressed forward with a flurry in the corner. With just one second left in the round, the referee stepped in and waved it off at 2:59. The timing of the stoppage immediately sparked debate, with Verhoeven and his corner protesting that he should have been allowed to finish the round. Despite the controversy, the result stands, and Usyk remains unbeaten.
The undercard delivered several decisive outcomes. Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title with a second‑round knockout of Alem Begic, continuing his rise as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers. Jack Catterall earned a wide unanimous decision over Shakhram Giyasov to claim the vacant WBA welterweight title, using sharp timing and steady pressure to control the action. In heavyweight action, Frank Sanchez stopped Richard Torrez Jr. in the second round, securing a TKO in just 55 seconds of the frame. Earlier in the night, Mizuki Hiruta retained her WBO super flyweight title with a unanimous decision over Mai Soliman.
The event showcased a mix of established champions and rising contenders, all set against one of the most striking backdrops in boxing. While the main event ended with debate, it also opened the door to potential rematches and new title challenges. Usyk hinted he is ready for anyone next, and the undercard winners positioned themselves for major opportunities ahead.
Sources
Fightmag
CBS Sports
Sky Sports