Usyk stops Verhoeven in round 11 after dutch star nearly shocked the boxing world

Oleksandr Usyk survived a massive scare and stopped Rico Verhoeven in Round 11 after a dramatic heavyweight clash at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

What many expected to be a showcase for the undefeated Ukrainian turned into one of the most shocking performances ever seen from a crossover fighter. Verhoeven used his size, pressure, movement, and inside work to trouble Usyk from the opening rounds, repeatedly forcing the champion backward onto the ropes and outworking him during long stretches of the fight.

By the midway point, Verhoeven was widely believed to be leading on the scorecards. According to the DAZN broadcast’s open scoring, the fight was level at 76-76 after nine rounds, while unofficial cards had the Dutchman ahead. Usyk struggled to establish his jab and had difficulty dealing with Verhoeven’s physical pressure and relentless pace.

Still, the pound-for-pound king slowly began finding success with counters and uppercuts as the championship rounds approached. In Round 11, Usyk finally found the breakthrough he had been searching for all night. As Verhoeven attempted to close the distance once again, Usyk landed a devastating right uppercut that sent the Dutchman crashing to the canvas.

Verhoeven beat the count and bravely tried to continue, but Usyk unleashed a final barrage in the corner before referee Mark Lyson stepped in to stop the contest at 2:59 of Round 11.

Despite the loss, Verhoeven earned massive respect for pushing one of boxing’s greatest champions to the limit and coming within touching distance of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.