Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defended his titles with an 11th-round technical knockout victory over Rico Verhoeven in a championship bout held near the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The main-event contest on Saturday, May 23, marked Usyk’s return to action following his victory over Daniel Dubois in July 2025, keeping his position at the top of the heavyweight division.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Surviving the early storm The opening rounds of the match saw Verhoeven, a long-time kickboxing champion making his second appearance under professional boxing rules, utilize his 6-foot-5 frame to establish control. Operating as the primary aggressor, the Dutchman used his height and reach advantages to land clean combinations, forcing Usyk to fight defensively from the outside. Usyk maintained a cautious approach during the first four rounds, absorbing several heavy sequences that put him behind on the scorecards by the midpoint of the contest. The momentum shifted during the middle and late frames as Usyk established his tactical rhythm. In the fourth round, the Ukrainian southpaw increased his volume, stepping inside Verhoeven’s reach to deliver targeted body shots and uppercuts. Verhoeven demonstrated notable durability, sustaining a high pace into the late rounds and mounting a competitive counter-offensive in the eighth frame that tested the champion’s defensive guard. Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk (L) fights Netherlands' Rico Verhoeven (R) during their WBC World Heavyweight Championship 'Glory in Giza' boxing match at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)