Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk narrowly retained his WBC heavyweight title in a dramatic showdown against Dutch challenger Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza. Expected to dominate, Usyk instead struggled against Verhoeven, a former kickboxer with limited boxing experience, who landed sharp right hands and bulldozed through defenses for much of the fight. Verhoeven defied expectations from the opening bell, winning early rounds and appearing on the verge of a historic upset.

The fight turned in the 11th round when Usyk landed a clean right hand that dropped Verhoeven through the ropes. Though Verhoeven beat the count, Usyk swarmed him with punches just before the bell. The referee stopped the bout with one second remaining, sparking controversy.

Verhoeven protested the stoppage, calling it premature, while Usyk survived what would have been a stunning defeat. The decision reignited debate over referee timing in close fights, especially at such a critical moment. Usyk’s performance raised questions about his dominance as he moves forward in the heavyweight division.