GIZA, Egypt: Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk survived a scare to earn an 11th-round stoppage against Rico Verhoeven, a Dutch kickboxer who pushed the undefeated Ukrainian to his limits on Saturday. In a chaotic ending, the 39-year-old Usyk dropped the challenger late in the penultimate round, and the referee waved it off after Usyk pounced when Verhoeven beat the count shortly before the bell. “I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven said moments later while still in the ring with the Pyramids of Giza in the background.

Few would have expected Oleksandr Usyk to be defending his heavyweight crown against a 1-0 professional boxer. Still, Rico Verhoeven will look to cause a monume

Oleksandr Usyk defends the WBC heavyweight title against one of kickboxing’s greatest fighters

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven streams Saturday on DAZN from the Pyramids of Giza. Here's the main card start time, projected ring walks and viewing info.

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleOleksandr Usyk is scheduled to defend his…

Oleksandr Usyk puts his heavyweight crown on the line in Egypt tonight when he takes on kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in front of the pyramids

Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk defended his crown against one of the best kickboxers in history in Rico Verhoeven in front of the pyramids

Rico Verhoeven heeft in de nacht van zaterdag op zondag bij de piramides van Gizeh in Egypte niet voor een sensatie kunnen zorgen. De Nederlander verloor van de Oekraïner…

Usyk was seemingly trailing on points against the kickboxing icon, but he earned a controversial KO at the end of the 11th round at the pyramids of Giza

The Ukrainian preserved his unbeaten record with an 11th-round technical knockout, despite the Dutch kickboxing great threatening to cause a huge upset

GIZA, Egypt: Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk survived a scare to earn an 11th-round stoppage against Rico Verhoeven, a Dutch kickboxer who pushed the undefeated Ukrainian to…

Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight title with a late-round victory over Rico Verhoeven on May 24.

Oleksandr Usyk narrowly retained the heavyweight world title in a controversial stoppage of kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven at the Egyptian pyramids, while British stars Hamzah…

Oleksandr Usyk got the knockout win everyone expected against Rico Verhoeven, but not in the way anybody saw coming. Usyk closed as a 20-1 favorite over Verhoev

Heavyweight boxing king Oleksandr Usyk retained his titles after a dramatic and controversial stoppage victory over kick-boxer Rico Verhoeven with a second left of the 11th round…

Heavyweight boxing king Oleksandr Usyk retained his titles after a dramatic and controversial stoppage victory over kick-boxer Rico Verhoeven with a second left of the 11th round…

Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC heavyweight title with a controversial 11th-round TKO of Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. Was Verhoeven robbed? Here are the facts.

Ukraine's unbeaten heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk stopped Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with one second left in the penultimate round of their WBC title fight.

Ukraine's unbeaten heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk stopped Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with one second left in the penultimate round of a WBC title fight on…

El campeón ucraniano retuvo sus cinturones de los pesados tras una controvertida decisión arbitral en el undécimo asalto.Rico Verhoeven sorprendió al mundo del boxeo y puso contra…

The Ukrainian heavyweight champion had a harder time with kickboxing champion fighting than expected in front of the pyramids of Giza.