After Finishing Verhoeven, Usyk is Waiting for Kabayel

Rico Verhoeven's straight punch to Oleksadr Usyk's face in a fight held at the Giza Pyramids, Cairo, Egypt, Saturday night, May 23, 2026. (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

JAKARTA - Oleksandr Usyk managed to stop Rico Verhoeven's resistance just one second before the 11th round ended. Verhoeven, a Dutch kickboxing legend, was declared TKO in his attempt to win the WBC heavyweight title held by Usyk. The match between the two legends of different types of fighting sports was held at the Giza Pyramids, Cairo, Egypt on Saturday night (23/5) local time or Sunday morning WIB.

Verhoeven (37) who just had his second fight as a professional boxer, almost made history after he was able to keep up with Usyk for 10 rounds of the scheduled 12. Having a bigger stature, Verhoeven did not make him slow to move. He is fast and agile, making Usyk (39) a hassle.

It took time for Usyk, a boxer from Ukraine, to control Verhoeven. Unable to aim at Verhoeven's head, which kept moving, he aimed at the body. The Dutch boxer was dizzy in the 4th round, but was able to overcome the situation to continue to pressure Usyk.

Until the 8th round, the score of the two boxers was still tied 76-76. Even in the 9th round, Verhoeven looked superior. But once again, Usyk's vast experience spoke. He managed to make Verhoeven several times under pressure, but was finally able to complete the round.

The determination was in the 11th round. When trying to urge Usyk to the corner of the ring, suddenly a right uppercut of the Ukrainian boxer pierced Verhoeven's chin. The big-framed Dutch boxer fell to the ring ropes. He was able to get up, but only to endure the next torture from Usyk.

Verhoeven was unable to withstand the barrage of Usyk's punches, causing referee Mark Lyson to decide that the duel had to be stopped for the safety of the boxer. Usyk was declared the winner by TKO, and kept his fighting record intact with 25-0-0 (16 KO). Meanwhile, Verhoeven has a record of 1-1-0 (1 KO).

"I think the fight was stopped too early. I myself would like the referee to let us continue to fight until the bell rings. But in the end it's not me who has to decide the final result," Verhoeven said, as quoted by The Ring.

There is a rematch clause between Usyk and Verhoeven, and they both agreed to hold a rematch. However, before the second duel between Usyk vs Verhoeven was held, the Ukrainian champion had to first undergo a mandatory duel against the German boxer of Kurdish blood, Agit Kabayel.