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Oleksandr Usyk, 39, of Ukraine narrowly escaped a career-defining upset on May 23, 2026 in an event that will be debated by combat sports enthusiasts for years to come.

Fighting against the historic and atmospheric backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the undefeated boxer successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven, 37, of the Netherlands. However, the victory was heavily overshadowed by a controversial late-round stoppage that saved the three-time undisputed champion from what would have been the most shocking result in modern boxing history.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

Usyk, who entered the bout with a pristine 24-0 record and a legacy cemented by victories over titans like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois, had faced significant criticism for selecting Verhoeven. Despite the Dutchman being a legend in the kickboxing world, he possessed minimal professional boxing experience, having entered the squared circle only once previously in 2014.

That personal desire nearly resulted in disaster. Verhoeven utilized his massive size advantage—weighing in at 258.7 pounds compared to Usyk’s 233.3—and employed an unorthodox, aggressive movement pattern that the champion struggled to track. Throughout the contest, Verhoeven’s relentless pressure and stinging right hands forced an uncharacteristically stagnant performance from the Ukrainian. By the championship rounds, it appeared the kickboxer had done enough to secure a monumental victory on the scorecards.

The trajectory of the fight shifted violently in the 11th round when Usyk finally connected with a flush uppercut that sent Verhoeven’s mouthpiece flying and deposited the challenger on the canvas. Although Verhoeven managed to beat the count, he appeared fatigued and discombobulated. Referee Mark Lyson opted to stop the contest at 2:59 of the round as Usyk unleashed a final barrage. While Verhoeven was still on his feet and protesting the decision, the fight was officially recorded as a TKO victory for the champion.

Oleksadr Usyk vs Agit Kabayel

Statistically, the match was incredibly close, with Usyk landing 112 of 499 punches (22%) compared to Verhoeven’s 113 of 508 (22%). Following the narrow escape, the undefeated boxer was presented with two immediate paths forward: a potential rematch with the Verhoeven or a clash against the WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, 33, of Germany.

True to his warrior ethos, Usyk accepted both prospects, stating, “Not a problem. Let’s do it.”

Whether this performance, which saw Usyk look far from his prime, indicates that retirement should be on the horizon for him remains a topic of intense speculation. While he holds a professional boxing record of 25 wins and 0 loss, Kabayel has 27 wins and 0 loss.