Oleksandr Usyk fought one of his toughest fights yet to cling on to his world heavyweight titles with a contentious 11th-round stoppage of kickboxing ace Rico Verhoeven in Egypt.
Billed as a formality defense by the Ukrainian before the Pyramids of Giza, the contest proved far different as Verhoeven stunned the boxing world by producing an all-action and brave performance in his second pro boxing fight.
The Dutchman tested Usyk on numerous occasions with rights and unrelenting pressure that left the undefeated champion looking uncertain at times and frustrated at others. Verhoeven’s movement and physique were difficult for Usyk to handle, and after an early flurry by the Ukrainian, it became a surprisingly tight battle between the two.
Usyk started to come into his own in the championship rounds, finding a sharp uppercut. This then had the Dutch fighter down for the first time in round eleven.
He rose, but a flurry of punches by Usyk near the end of the round, with only seconds remaining, saw the referee stop the fight, which proved contentious for boxing fans and experts alike.
Score cards on completion were 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 to Verhoeven.
Verhoeven has demanded a rematch with Usyk, also being linked with a fight with undefeated Agit Kabayel
