WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round [1] at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.
The victory is under scrutiny because video evidence suggests the referee stopped the bout after the round-ending bell had already sounded. This timing has led observers to describe the win as premature or unfair, casting a shadow over the official result.
Usyk secured the TKO victory in the 11th round [1] during the high-profile event. However, the nature of the stoppage has sparked immediate debate among combat sports analysts. While the official cards record a win for the champion, the visual evidence from the broadcast indicates a delay in the referee's intervention.
Reports indicate that Usyk was trailing on points [2] prior to the stoppage. This detail adds to the controversy, as a fight that was being won by Verhoeven on the scorecards ended in a victory for Usyk due to a disputed refereeing decision.
Critics of the decision point to the specific timing of the knockout. According to video replays, the stoppage occurred after the bell, which would typically signify the end of the round and the safety of the fighters. The discrepancy between the live officiating and the recorded footage has led to calls for a review of the bout.
Verhoeven, a seasoned kickboxer, faced the boxing champion in a cross-discipline clash. The setting at the Pyramids of Giza provided a dramatic backdrop, but the focus has now shifted from the spectacle to the legality of the 11th-round [1] finish.
“Usyk won by an 11th-round technical knockout (TKO) of Verhoeven.”
The controversy highlights the tension between official ringside decisions and the precision of modern video replay in combat sports. Because Usyk was trailing on points, the timing of the stoppage is the sole factor determining the winner, potentially leading to official appeals or a demand for a rematch to resolve the dispute over the 11th-round finish.
