Oleksandr Usyk retained his unified heavyweight titles on Saturday night after stopping former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round at the Pyramids.

The fight, which took place in front of the historic Pyramids of Giza, ended in controversy when referee stopped the bout with Verhoeven still on his feet, sparking heated debate among fans and pundits.

Usyk, who entered the bout as the heavy favourite, was put under significant pressure by the much larger Dutchman.

 Verhoeven, making only his second professional boxing appearance, used his size and kickboxing experience to push Usyk back for much of the fight. Many observers believed Verhoeven was ahead or level on the scorecards heading into the later rounds.

In round 11, Usyk landed a sharp uppercut that visibly hurt Verhoeven. As he followed up with punches, the referee stepped in to stop the contest at 2:59 of the round, declaring a TKO victory for Usyk.

The decision was immediately criticised by many in attendance and on social media, with some claiming Verhoeven was not sufficiently damaged to warrant a stoppage. Verhoeven protested the decision, while his corner also expressed disbelief.

Despite the controversy, Usyk improved his record to 24-0 (15 KOs) and retained his WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring heavyweight titles. The Ukrainian champion showed his class in the later rounds, finding his rhythm and landing cleaner shots as the fight progressed.

This was Usyk’s first fight since his dominant victory over Tyson Fury, and many viewed the Verhoeven bout as a stay-busy fight with potential risks. While the stoppage remains disputed, Usyk once again proved his superiority in the heavyweight division.

Further reactions and possible review of the stoppage are expected in the coming days.