Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Rico Verhoeven: a recap of the fight
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Dutchman Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round and successfully defended his heavyweight championship belts.
At stake in the bout were the WBC and The Ring titles, which the Ukrainian managed to retain.
Usyk also retained his WBA and IBF world titles.
At the start of the fight, Verhoeven was the more active fighter, while Usyk fought cautiously and kept his opponent at a distance.
The first serious exchange of blows took place in the third round, where the Dutchman landed a dangerous jab.
In the fourth round, Usyk seized the initiative; the Ukrainian successfully landed uppercuts, delivered a series of precise punches, and began to press his opponent more aggressively.
Despite this, Verhoeven continued to attack in the second half of the fight. In the sixth round, the Dutchman reached the final round of a bout for the first time in his career, and in the eighth, he once again intensified the action against the ropes.
In the ninth round, Usyk was under pressure from his opponent for some time. At the end of the tenth round, the boxers engaged in a fierce exchange of blows.
The 11th round proved decisive.
Usyk drops Rico with a PEACH of an uppercut pic.twitter.com/WzlFBTJ4ba
— ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ (@TheArtOfWar6) May 23, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk sent Rico Verhoeven to the canvas with a precise straight punch, followed by another powerful series of attacks.
The referee stopped the fight and ruled a technical knockout.
THE REFEREE JUMPS IN AND STOPS THE FIGHT IN ROUND 11
OLEKSANDR USYK WINS! @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/3XQLwewGdZ— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) May 23, 2026
For the Ukrainian, this victory marked:
- his 25th professional win;
- he remains undefeated — 25-0;
- 15 of Usyk’s wins have come by knockout.
After defeating Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round, Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk stated that he is ready to fight two more bouts.
Oleksandr Usyk stepped into the ring against Rico Verhoeven in a bout for the WBC heavyweight world title. The fight will take place in Giza and promises to be one of the most high-profile of the Ukrainian’s career. The Ring belt will also be on the line.
Prior to this, Usyk and Verhoeven held a joint press conference before the fight and engaged in another battle of wits, where they openly expressed respect for one another but also their readiness for a tough fight. Both athletes emphasized that despite their different disciplines, they are united by a love of fighting and competition.
