Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk (R) fights Netherlands' Rico Verhoeven (L) during their WBC World Heavyweight Championship 'Glory in Giza' boxing match at the Pyramids of Giza. AFP
The “Glory in Giza” event delivered a spectacular night of boxing on Saturday as Usyk overcame a stern challenge from Verhoeven to secure a technical knockout victory in the penultimate round of their heavyweight clash.
Both fighters made elaborate entrances inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization before the Egyptian, Dutch, and Ukrainian national anthems were played.
Verhoeven started brightly, pressing aggressively in the opening rounds and targeting Usyk’s body with sharp combinations while the Ukrainian cautiously studied his opponent. Usyk gradually settled into the contest in the second round, landing straight punches and uppercuts to regain momentum.
The Dutchman continued to trouble the champion with awkward movement and relentless pressure, appearing to edge ahead on the scorecards through the middle rounds. Usyk responded strongly in the fourth and fifth rounds, shaking Verhoeven with heavy uppercuts and pinning him near the ropes with clean combinations.
Verhoeven, however, continued to impress despite entering the bout with only one previous professional boxing match in 2014. He disrupted Usyk’s rhythm in the seventh and eighth rounds with movement and direct punches, prompting suggestions that the champion was facing one of the toughest tests of his heavyweight career.
Usyk rallied in the closing stages, capitalizing on Verhoeven’s aggression in the ninth and tenth rounds as signs of fatigue began to emerge from the Dutch fighter.
The decisive moment came in the 11th round when Usyk intensified his attack, unleashing a series of uppercuts and left hands before flooring Verhoeven with a crushing uppercut with one second remaining in the round. Although Verhoeven rose to his feet, the referee halted the contest moments later, awarding Usyk victory by technical knockout.
“I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end the decision is not in my hands,” Verhoeven told DAZN after the fight.
“I wanted the referee to let me reach the 12th round. I felt we were very close.”
Verhoeven said Usyk had offered him a rematch and expressed pride in his performance.
“I’m very proud of my performance, and I hope the boxing world embraces me as a boxer,” he added.
Usyk dedicated the victory to Ukrainians enduring the ongoing war at home.
“I know that the Ukrainian people are now sitting in shelters because of the bombardment, and my daughter is also in a shelter,” Usyk said. “She sent me a message saying, ‘Papa, I love you, you will win.’”
“Thank you very much, Rico. You are a great fighter,” he added.
In a gesture of sportsmanship after the stoppage, Usyk approached Verhoeven in the ring, comforting him and kissing his head in appreciation for the contest.
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