Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight titles Saturday after a technical knockout victory over Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt [1], [3].

The bout represents a rare crossover between professional boxing and elite kickboxing, testing Usyk's dominance against a fighter from a different combat discipline. The result preserves Usyk's status as the heavyweight champion despite a finish that sparked immediate debate among observers.

The fight took place on May 23, 2026 [3], near the Great Pyramid of Giza [1], [2]. The match reached a dramatic conclusion in the 11th round [1], [2]. According to reports, Verhoeven dropped Usyk with a second left-hand punch of the round [1], [4].

Despite the knockdown, the referee stopped the fight, deeming Usyk unable to continue in a manner that favored the champion's retention of the belts [1], [5]. This decision led to claims that the stoppage was premature, as Verhoeven appeared to have the momentum at the time of the intervention [5].

Verhoeven expressed disappointment regarding the referee's decision following the match. "I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it's not up to me," Verhoeven said [1].

Usyk managed to weather the late-round surge from the Dutch fighter to ensure the victory [1]. The event's unique location in Egypt provided a global stage for the heavyweight title defense, though the controversy surrounding the 11th-round stoppage now overshadows the spectacle of the venue [1], [3].

“Usyk retained his heavyweight titles after a controversial 11th‑round stoppage”

The controversial nature of the stoppage suggests a potential for a rematch. While Usyk remains the champion, the fact that a kickboxer successfully dropped him in the closing stages of the fight challenges the perceived invincibility of the champion's defense and highlights the volatility of heavyweight matchmaking.