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Oleksandr Usyk pulls off controversial late victory after Rico Verhoeven pushes champion hard in Egypt
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Updated 24/05/2026 at 07:54 GMT+1
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Oleksandr Usyk got out of jail with a stoppage victory over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt with a dramatic finale.
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The unified Ukrainian fighter was behind on some cards after it had appeared that his kickboxer opponent was poised to pull off the biggest upset in the heavyweight division’s history.
For the best part of 11 rounds, Verhoeven appeared more energetic, more positive and more damaging, though Usyk stepped up his efforts and success as the second half of the fight wore on.
It had seemed that Usyk had left it too little, too late, with many believing the unfancied underdog Verhoeven was ahead on the cards even at that late stage.
However, with little time remaining in the 11th round, Usyk had Verhoeven stumbling and down on one knee. Sensing danger, the champion complained when the referee granted the Dutchman an extended break to get his gumshield put back in.
Despite that respite, Usyk was able to press his advantage with only seconds left on the clock, and he forced the referee’s hand with a stoppage that gave him victory with just one second left.
Given how poorly Usyk had been fighting until that point, the win almost certainly gave him a huge sense of relief too.
Speaking after the win, Usyk praised the ”amazing fighter” Verhoeven, and said he would be "ready" to fight him in a rematch, and potentially to take on German heavyweight Agit Kabayel if that was the fight he had to take up first.
The beaten Verhoeven lamented the early stoppage, and said he had wanted "to go out on my shield" rather than be protected with an early end to the fight.
As it happened:
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 11 - USYK WINS
Both fighters may need a strong finish.
OH MY! Verhoeven gets clocked with seconds remaining of the fight. He's up, and gets an extended break to have his gumshield put back in.
The fight restarts and with only a few moments left, Usyk unloads, and the referee stops it!
Verhoeven's corner are outraged that the referee stepped in, with commentators shocked that the fight was not allowed to continue. But, to me, Verhoeven was falling apart there and he probably only needed to hold on for another five seconds.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 10
Verhoeven again walks down Usyk, and it would not be a surprise at this point if the champion starts to wobble. Into the championship rounds now, and the kickboxer might still be the favourite despite the reports of those scorecards. In the last 20 seconds though, Usyk really goes at Verhoeven and lands a decent flurry on his opponent, but Verhoeven responds with aggression.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 9
Verhoeven sends in some heavy early body shots. Midway through, he's hurt again, and Usyk has to dance away and then clinch. He looks unable to find a plan. The open scoring apparently has it 76-76, which will really invite questions from boxing fans, given the sport's history. The Ukrainian looks tired here.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 8
Two big right hands from Verhoeven. As it stands, he'll be the new heavyweight champion - albeit only the WBC champ.
Usyk would also be stripped of the IBF belt, and very possibly the WBA strap too.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 7
Usyk has switched to southpaw now, but he gets nailed. He opens up in response, but he's behind on the cards. He has to rally, and potentially stop the fight, because he might well now be unable to take it from the judges' scorelines.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 6
Usyk still looks sluggish into the sixth. Another even round, and Verhoeven still looks fit and fresh.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 5
Verhoeven will not be accustomed to a fight going beyond five lots of three. An even round, but Verhoeven definitely more positive still. An upset remains on the cards.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 4
Verhoeven is hurt. Usyk lands a few punches, has his opponent rattled, and he unloads with both the left and right. The two clinch, and Usyk sends down another heavy right, and then takes one. This is a frantic scrap, and there's a brief pause for Verhoeven to get his gumshield fitted.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 3
Verhoeven apologises for a low blow on Usyk, but he continues to unload as he looks to build on his impressive early start. Usyk is taking a fair bit of punishment here. Usyk comes into it with a little more aggression towards the end. The cards probably have Verhoeven up.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 2
Usyk lands a decent uppercut but Verhoeven comes straight back and crowds out his opponent. With Usyk's height, the uppercut might favour him, punching upwards as Verhoeven looms over him.
Usyk v Verhoeven - Round 1
Verhoeven is the more energetic of the two fighters in the early exchanges. The Ukrainian is a little guarded for the first round, and he's rushed by the Dutchman midway through, bringing some excitement from the crowd. Verhoeven is pretty lithe, jittery even, and lands a wonderful right to the body. The kickboxer takes the first round.
The duo touch gloves at the end of the round.
Usyk is here
Similarly restrained. The CGI (AI?) cohort of support actors really keep things nice and conservative.
Verhoeven's walkout
It's a study in subtlety.
Six men in gold armour and torches follow him to the ring.
I am led to believe it's been inspired by the work of Alain Resnais.
Usyk v Verhoeven prediction
Here's Gareth A Davies' prediction for tonight.
Verhoeven a kickboxing legend
He is perhaps the best to have ever taken up the sport.
He can strike, then, clearly, but the technique and strategy is entirely different.
Usyk is the favourite.
Usyk v Verhoeven up next
Minutes to go now.
'I'll fight anyone' - Sheeraz wants to unify.
"Calling on all 168 pounders," he begins as he speaks in the right.
He contiued: "Arsenal set the tone and put the pressure on me. I'm passing the baton and hope they do the double.
"I'll fight anyone. I'm beating whoever's put in front of me."
Sheeraz v Begic - Round 2: Sheeraz stops Begic
Sheeraz starts to unload and Begic could face an early stoppage if he continues to press his advantage. He has the power and greater range, too. Begic is down with a liver punch... and that's it!
He tries to stand up a couple of times, but after the first attempt he looked entirely unable to rouse himself. They always look viciously painful, and that was no exception.
Sheeraz is WBO super-middleweight champion, a title at last. Canelo has his next fight lined up already, but they might meet in the next year at this rate.
Sheeraz v Begic - Round 1
A decent start for the Briton first up, but nothing too worrying from either fighter yet.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic next
The co-main is ahead of us.
Sheeraz is a potential super middleweight star. Canelo Alvarez is in the crowd, which could tee up a massive clash.
The WBO super middleweight title is up for grabs, and Sheeraz is the obvious favourite.
Catterall wants Romero next
"I feel strong, I feel good," he says of his win.
Asked what he will do to fight Rolly Romero, he points to Eddie Hearn and adds: "Whatever this man wants, I'll do."
Within 180 days, the two are set to fight, but Hearn wants it to happen within 90 days.
Catterall now WBA Regular welterweight champion
118-109, 119-109. 116-111 from the judges gives Catterall a huge victory.
He could soon be moved up to the full champion in the coming months, though he may have to take on Rolly Romero to do so.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 12
Catterall raises his fists in triumph, and Giyasov does not pretend otherwise.
The move up to 147lbs has served him well. We wait for the scorecards.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 11
Giyasov lands a couple of heavy body blows midway through the round, and finds his way through Catterall's defence to end strongly.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 10
Giyasov slips - it's not counted as a knockdown - but he doesn't look steady in general. Two more rounds for the Englishman could see a stoppage yet.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 9
Catterall probably edges the round, but his opponent has offered little.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 8
A studied effort from both as the championship rounds approach, but it's Catterall who is probably ahead on the cards, so that suits him perfectly.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 7
A few really nasty, vicious blows from Catterall late on in the round with his left hand has left his opponent looking weathered, at best.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 6
Into the sixth, Catterall has landed about five times as many jabs (about 40), and thrown twice as many (about 100). Giyasov is starting to bleed from the nose.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 5
Catterall is in trouble in the last seconds after also finding the fourth tough. He had to duck and weave low in the corner.
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Catterall v Giyasov - Round 4
A mark showing under the right eye of Catterall. More jabbing from Giyasov might serve to open it up or add to the accumulated pain for Catterall.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 3
Catterall lands a heavy left into the body midway in the third. He's in control so far.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 2
The Uzbek comes back with a couple of decent blows in a more even second round. Catterall still finds his range with the left, but it's a largely balanced second.
Catterall v Giyasov - Round 1
Catterall knocks down Giyasov with a solid left, and after short count, the two come together. The round settles down going into the final minute, but Catterall currently has his opponent's number. The Englishman gets an early morale boost.
A title on the line
Rolly Romero was elevated to WBA 'Super' status, meaning the fight tonight is for the WBA strap.
With Romero inactive of late, some speculate this is the organisation's way of sidelining Romero and allowing a new fighter to step in as the champion.
Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov next
Britain's Catterall takes on the Uzebek fighter Giyasov next, at welterweight.
Catterall won in his light fight against Ekow Essuman, so he needs a win to really remain a viably big name.
Sanchez by KO
After a couple of akward rounds for Sanchez against the younger man, Sanchez sends down a huge right-hander into the side of Torrez's face. He was down and not coming back any time soon. As Sanchez celebrates, his opponent is still wobbling.
That sets him up for a potential heavyweight title clash, though the sluggish Cuban might not be the favourite against Usyk.
McGregor and Pimblett back in July
UFC 329 is set to be a huge occasion, with Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor back in action.
More details here.
Eliminator on offer
This is an IBF eliminator fight.
Oleksandr Usyk is the current champion, but you would imagine that he will be looking elsewhere after tonight.
Heavyweights up next
Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. is the next one on the card before we get into the business end.
Neither fighter here is a star yet, but a win might put them in contention for a high-profile clash in their next bout.
Hiruta wins by a mile
99-91 98-92 98-92 from the judges. Her super flyweight title is defended for the seventh time.
Hiruta bursts into tears as she admits to "panicking" in her post-win speech. She is clearly overwhelmed, but pays tribute to Soliman, and hopes to unify the division and be a "superstar."
"I will keep this belt forever," she claims.
Hiruta celibrates
Hiratu escapes that brief, late pressure and reasserts her dominance with a cruise towards victory.
We're waiting for what will likely be declared the unanimous winner.
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Soliman threatens Hiruta
In the eighth round, Soliman rocks Hiruta halfway through.
The Japanese fighter holds on under pressure, and it's a nasty reminder not to lose her focus.
Hiruta dominates
The champion is cruising from here. She's in control after six rounds, and there's no sign of an upset on the cards
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WBO championship begins
We're underway once more.
Up next
Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Solman will be up next on the card.
Meni stops Lapin
Daniel Lepin loses to Benjamin Mendes Tani.
The Frenchman fought up close, didn't let up, and the Ukrainian simply could not cope.
In the fourth round, the underdog rattles Lapin and sends him to the canvas. He recovers, still shaky, and is knocked out a further two times. The ref steps in to wind things up, he's seen enough.
The fight gets underway
Daniel Lapin vs Benjamin Mendes Tani start to go at it.
Prelims finished
Next up is the main card.
Daniel Lapin vs Benjamin Mendes Tani is next, opening up the main event.
Lapin is one of Usyk's clients, so big things are expected of him.
Hearn says Joshua wants to be undisputed
Afternoon, here we all are.
Eddie Hearn says that Anthony Joshua is targeting undisputed champion for 2027 as he stands in shades in front of the pyramids. That is very Eddie Hearn.
World Championship LIVE - Usyk v Verhoeven
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