Oleksandr Usyk added another historic victory to his legendary résumé Saturday night, stopping kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
The spectacular “Glory in Giza” event delivered one of the most visually stunning settings in combat sports history as Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title with a dramatic late stoppage.
Verhoeven Pushes Usyk Further Than Expected
Although Oleksandr Usyk entered the bout as an overwhelming betting favorite, Verhoeven’s size, toughness and world-class striking background made the fight far more competitive than many anticipated.
The longtime kickboxing champion used:
- Physical strength
- Reach advantages
- Constant pressure
to challenge Usyk through much of the contest.
For 10 rounds, Verhoeven exceeded expectations and forced Usyk into several uncomfortable exchanges.
However, the undefeated Ukrainian champion eventually found another gear late.
Usyk Finishes The Fight In Round 11
Near the end of the 11th round, Usyk finally broke Verhoeven down with a crushing sequence that sent the Dutchman to the canvas.
The referee stepped in with just one second remaining in the round, awarding Usyk the knockout victory. The stoppage seemed to be premature as Verhoeven looked like he could have continued. The win improved Usyk’s record to:
- 25-0
- 16 knockouts
and continued one of the greatest heavyweight runs of the modern era.
Usyk Continues Historic Run
Saturday’s fight marked Usyk’s first appearance since his devastating second-round stoppage victory over Daniel Dubois in July 2025, where he reclaimed the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Widely regarded as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound greats, Usyk has now:
- Unified the cruiserweight division
- Become undisputed heavyweight champion
- Defeated elite heavyweights across multiple eras
- Added a crossover victory over one of kickboxing’s biggest legends
Verhoeven Earns Respect In Boxing Return
Despite the loss, Verhoeven impressed many observers with his toughness and composure. The Dutch superstar entered the fight as one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers ever, carrying a remarkable:
- 66-10 kickboxing record
- 21 knockout victories
His only previous professional boxing bout came more than a decade ago in Germany.
While he ultimately fell short against one of boxing’s all-time elite technicians, Verhoeven proved capable of competing far beyond what many expected in his return to the ring.
With another marquee victory secured, Oleksandr Usyk now turns attention toward the next chapter of his already legendary heavyweight reign.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
