Oleksandr Usyk got very lucky to keep his world heavyweight boxing titles. He defeated Rico Verhoeven in a highly controversial 11th-round knockout. The historic match took place outdoors in front of the famous Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Verhoeven is a famous kickboxing champion, but this was only his second professional boxing match. Almost nobody gave him a chance to win. However, he shocked the world by using his size and energy to make the 39-year-old champion look slow and tired. Famous stars like Anthony Joshua and Jason Statham watched from ringside as Verhoeven repeatedly hit Usyk with big right hands. By the 11th round, Verhoeven was actually winning on one judge’s scorecard, and the other two had the fight at a tie.
The Dramatic 11th Round
Usyk knew he was in trouble and needed to change the fight. In the 11th round, he finally found his spark and hit Verhoeven with a powerful left punch called an uppercut. The blow sent the Dutchman crashing down into the ropes.
Verhoeven bravely got back up on his feet before the referee finished counting. Usyk rushed in to land a final flurry of punches. Then, with only a few seconds left before the bell, the referee suddenly stepped in and stopped the fight.
Why Fans and Experts Are Angry
Many people feel the referee’s decision was extremely unfair to the challenger. Because Verhoeven was still standing and the round was almost over, he should have been allowed to go back to his corner to rest and try to survive the final round.
“I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th,” Verhoeven said. “I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards.”
What is Next?
Even though the ending caused a massive argument, Usyk remains undefeated with 25 wins. However, his reputation took a hit because he struggled so much against a boxing beginner. After the match, another top boxer named Agit Kabayel entered the ring and challenged Usyk to a fight in Germany, which Usyk accepted.
