In a highly anticipated crossover bout held at the iconic Pyramids of Giza, Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his WBC heavyweight title against the formidable kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven. The fight, which was scheduled for 12 rounds, culminated in a spectacular TKO victory for Usyk in the 11th round.
Verhoeven, the longest-reigning GLORY heavyweight kickboxing champion, started the fight strong, showcasing impressive power and accuracy, particularly in the early rounds. He landed significant blows that appeared to trouble Usyk, leading many observers to believe he was winning the fight on the scorecards.
However, the Ukrainian boxing phenom, known for his resilience and strategic prowess, weathered the storm. While Verhoeven maintained a high output and demonstrated remarkable stamina throughout the bout, Usyk began to find his rhythm. In the 11th round, a pivotal moment occurred when Usyk managed to knock down Verhoeven. Though Verhoeven bravely beat the count, Usyk seized the opportunity, launching a decisive offensive that led to the referee stopping the fight via TKO.
This victory marks a significant defense of Usyk’s WBC title. Although his IBF and WBA belts were also on the line, the outcome for those titles would have been a vacancy had Usyk lost, as Verhoeven was an unranked challenger. Ultimately, Usyk proved his dominance in boxing, defeating a respected champion from another combat sport in a thrilling contest.
Fight Highlights: Round by Round
Round 1: Verhoeven made a strong statement, stunning Usyk with powerful body shots and clean punches, clearly taking the opening round.
Round 2: Usyk showed increased respect for Verhoeven’s power. The kickboxing champion continued to dominate with sharp, active exchanges and superior output.
Round 3: A more competitive round for Usyk, though Verhoeven remained undeterred, absorbing significant shots while landing effective combinations.
Round 4: Usyk demonstrated a much-improved performance, going on the offensive, but his clean shots were not yet enough to deter Verhoeven.
Round 5: Verhoeven had another strong round, showing aggression and seeking a finish whenever he sensed an opening, while Usyk remained composed.
Round 6: Verhoeven continued to impress with his output, combinations, and constant movement, securing another round.
Round 7: Verhoeven continued to control the distance and pace, landing relentless shots to Usyk’s body and head, nearly sending the champion to the canvas.
Round 8: Usyk ended the round with renewed urgency, while Verhoeven maintained his forward pressure, landing effective counter-punches.
Round 9: Verhoeven delivered another dominant round, effectively dismantling Usyk with liver shots and powerful combinations, despite Usyk’s stance changes.
Round 10: Usyk appeared to be tiring, but in the closing seconds, he landed an explosive combination, briefly putting Verhoeven on the defensive.
Round 11: The turning point of the fight. Usyk knocked down Verhoeven. After Verhoeven beat the count, Usyk immediately pressed his advantage, leading to the fight-ending TKO.
Official Result: Oleksandr Usyk defeats Rico Verhoeven by TKO in the 11th round.