Usyk crushes Verhoeven in Giza
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven in a spectacular fight in Egypt. The Ukrainian defended his status as the best heavyweight on the planet and shattered the Dutchman's dream of causing an upset, according to the official result of the fight.
Fight for the crown: How the fight unfolded
The bout at the foot of the pyramids turned out to be one of the most difficult in the Ukrainian's career due to the incredible pressure from his much heavier opponent.
Verhoeven started the fight extremely aggressively, trying to immediately smother the Ukrainian, but Oleksandr Usyk acted patiently, fighting off the back foot and attempting to keep the powerful kickboxer at a safe distance.
Already in the third round, the rivals engaged in a dense, no‑compromise exchange of punches, during which the Dutchman landed a very sharp and dangerous hook.
By the middle of the fourth round, Usyk had visibly switched on his trademark speed, landing spectacular uppercuts and a series of precise combinations, although a heavy right hand from Verhoeven also found its mark.
The Dutchman's activity did not wane in the second half of the bout. For the first time in his career, he crossed the threshold of the sixth round, and later continued to attack sharply and persistently in the eighth.
The critical moment for our champion came in the ninth round, when Verhoeven managed to trap Usyk against the ropes, pushing him to the ring enclosure.
At the end of the tenth three‑minute session, a fierce exchange erupted between the fighters. Oleksandr launched a determined assault, and Rico immediately answered with his own heavy counterpunch.
Final chord in the 11th round and absolute dominance
The dramatic climax of this intense showdown came in the eleventh round, when Oleksandr Usyk caught his opponent with a powerful straight punch and sent Verhoeven to the canvas for a heavy knockdown.
The Dutchman managed to get up and showed tremendous heart, but a lightning‑quick follow‑up combination from the Ukrainian finished the job, securing a stoppage victory for Usyk by knockout.
At stake in the grand bout on the Giza Plateau were the WBC and The Ring belts — which the Ukrainian spectacularly defended inside the ring — while simultaneously retaining his WBA and IBF world titles and capturing the exclusive WBC "King of the Nile" belt.
This triumph marked the 25th victory of the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk's professional career and allowed him to successfully defend his championship titles for the sixth consecutive time since moving up to the royal heavyweight division.
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING REFFERE,ROBBED ASF,RICO IS THE WINNER,RICO WINNIG AND REFFERE MUST DOING SOMETHING TO HELP USYK,FUCKING BULLSHIT #UsykRico pic.twitter.com/ruBh59f7b7
— MalyMMA (@MalekUfcBets) May 23, 2026
Crazy millions: How much the boxers earned
Beyond this latest success, the fight brought the Ukrainian one of the largest paydays of his career. According to European media reports, Usyk earned approximately $100 million (€86 million).
For his opponent Rico Verhoeven, the financial terms were also record‑breaking. Although the exact amount for the Dutchman has not been disclosed, the fighter himself admitted beforehand that it is the biggest payday of his life/
Before stepping into the ring, Verhoeven shared that he could not give exact figures, but said that as a kickboxer he had never received that kind of money and that it was a completely different level.
Cossack's Path: Interesting facts from Usyk's biography
Oleksandr was born in Simferopol, Crimea. In his youth, his main passion was football — he even played for the Tavriya youth team, but due to his family's financial difficulties, he was forced to switch to a free boxing section.
His path to the top of the world boxing ring began with triumph at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where, after the gold medal final, he danced a legendary hopak with a Cossack-style haircut (forelock) on his head.
For 39-year-old Oleksandr Usyk, with a record of 25-0 (15 KOs), this bout marked his return after nearly a year‑long hiatus. The Ukrainian southpaw once again demonstrated why he has firmly held the status of heavyweight division leader for so long.
In July 2025, Oleksandr achieved the status of undisputed world champion, collecting all the prestigious belts in one fist.
Later, the Ukrainian voluntarily vacated the WBO title, as he had no desire to make a mandatory defence against Britain's Fabio Wardley.
For the past five years, Usyk has been carrying out a true "British clean‑up," facing exclusively top fighters from the UK.
In those clashes, he defeated Anthony Joshua twice, outboxing him thanks to phenomenal technique and stamina.
Usyk also twice beat Tyson Fury, settling all arguments about who is the true king of the heavyweight division.
Daniel Dubois was no exception — the Ukrainian champion brutally knocked him out in the rematch with his signature punch.
Before the current showdown, Usyk weighed in at 105.8 kg (233 lbs), allowing him to retain his trademark speed and maneuverability against a significantly heavier opponent, who weighed 117.3 kg (259 lbs).
Who is Rico Verhoeven: The kickboxer who challenged a genius
The 37-year-old Dutchman Rico Verhoeven entered this fight as the ultimate underdog, yet as a true icon of martial arts.
Nicknamed the "King of Kickboxing," he held the Glory promotion championship title unchallenged for 12 years and put together an incredible 22-consecutive-victory streak.
In boxing, Rico had only one fight back in 2014, in which he knocked out Hungary's János Finfera.
Interestingly, the Dutchman was trained by Peter Fury — the uncle of the "Gypsy King" himself (Tyson Fury).
In the summer of 2025, Verhoeven defeated Russia's Artem Vakhitov, after which he left kickboxing to take on the biggest challenge of his life — a fight against Usyk.
What experts and bookmakers predicted
Global analysts were almost unanimous in giving the win to the Ukrainian southpaw. Bookmakers offered symbolic odds of 1.05 for an Oleksandr victory.
Bets on a Verhoeven win were accepted at around 9.50, while a draw was priced at 26.00.
Most experts noted that Usyk's pure boxing skills would prove an insurmountable barrier for the kickboxer.
Only the flamboyant British heavyweight Derek Chisora went against the grain and publicly backed the Dutch giant, betting on his superior anthropometry (117.3 kg / 259 lbs versus Usyk's 105.8 kg / 233 lbs).
Cossack code at Giza: Usyk's symbolic imagery
Oleksandr Usyk impressed the world not only with his skill but also with his characteristically powerful ring walk.
Specifically for the fight in Egypt, the Ukrainian brand DAMIRLI, created by designer Elvira Gasanova, crafted an exclusive outfit for the champion, rich in sacred meaning.
At the face-off, Oleksandr appeared in a deep blue suit with gold embroidery. The central element was a trident set within a sunflower, symbolising freedom and identity, while the diamond geometry and the inscription "IC XC NIKA" (Jesus Christ Conquers) served as Cossack protective signs.
At the press conference, a white outfit with a cloak-like drape and open arms embodied modern Cossack armour, built on faith, confidence, and a connection to his native land.
For the actual battle at the foot of the pyramids, Usyk entered the ring in a symbolic costume to traditional musical accompaniment, demonstrating that he was boxing in the open‑air arena in Giza not just for the WBC title, The Ring belt, and the exclusive "King of the Nile" belt, but as a representative of unbreakable Ukraine.
Final dance: What's next for the champion's career
The future of Oleksandr Usyk after his Egyptian triumph is taking clear shape. The 39‑year‑old WBC, WBA and IBF titleholder has officially announced that his legendary career is entering its final straight.
Immediately after the weigh‑in ceremony in Giza, Usyk openly admitted how many fights he has left:
"Yes, of course, this is one of my last fights, because I think I have three fights left. This is the first, then two more. And then I'll go rest," the champion stated.
Since Usyk vacated the WBO belt before this bout due to his reluctance to face mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley, the main goal for him is to regain the status of undisputed champion.
A mega‑fight against Daniel Dubois, who currently holds that title, looks like a logical step — to collect all four heavyweight gold belts for a second time and retire as an undefeated king.
