Usyk claims dramatic win over kick-boxer Verhoeven to retain heavyweight titles

[p]In the shadow of the Great Pyramid of Giza, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verhoeven-rico/OdPJz24m/"]Verhoeven[/a] had rocked the Ukrainian champion and seemed to be leading before he was dropped and eventually stopped.[/p][p]"I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it's not up to me," Verhoeven told [i]DAZN[/i].[/p][p][b]"I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the 12th. I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards."[/b][/p][p]He said he was thankful for the opportunity and revealed that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/usyk-olexandr/nqbF7L5K/"]Usyk[/a] had offered him a rematch.[/p][p][b]"I am super proud of my performance and hopefully, the boxing world embraces me as a boxer," [/b]he added.[/p][embed guid="40937103-efe8-4a8a-a091-0d7ee8471fe9" url="https://x.com/i/status/2058339220591083812" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite having fought the likes of former champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fury-tyson/MDZyQvA1/"]Tyson Fury[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joshua-anthony/WnlqLAvo/"]Antony Joshua[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dubois-daniel/G0otNoYd/"]Daniel Dubois[/a], Usyk was given perhaps his toughest heavyweight fight by a man who had only boxed once before, in 2014.[/p][p]Verhoeven is a legend of kickboxing, but no one expected him to cause the great Usyk so many problems in a boxing bout.[/p][p][b]"I know right now, Ukrainian people are sitting in the bomb shelter, my daughter too, in a bomb shelter, sent me a message saying, 'Papa, I love you, you will win',"[/b] said Usyk, who retained the WBA, WBC and IBF belts.[/p][p][b]"Thank you so much, Rico. You are an amazing fighter. Thank you so much to your team. My team, I love you. My wife, I love you. You are my light and my heart.[/b][/p][p][b]"This fight was hard. It was a good fight."[/b][/p][h2]Plush right hand[/h2][p]Until the controversial stoppage, Verhoeven had proved to be more than a tricky competitor and gave Usyk a huge scare.[/p][p]His jerky style, bulldozing aggression and powerful right hand had troubled a sluggish-looking Usyk for most of the fight.[/p][p]The fight had attracted a host of boxing greats to ringside, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-saul/lIt283bJ/"]Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crawford-terence/Y5VP2335/"]Terence Crawford[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/golovkin-gennady/lpwAb2Io/"]Gennady Golovkin[/a] and former heavyweight champions Joshua and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruiz-andy-jr/SCOVuRAS/"]Andy Ruiz[/a].[/p][p][b]But as an exhausted Verhoeven started to labour in the 11th round, Usyk unleashed a stunning uppercut to drop the Dutchman.[/b][/p][p]There were only seconds left of the round to survive after Verhoeven climbed off the canvas.[/p][embed guid="b0426744-0e3a-4476-aaac-0f21ec99289a" url="https://x.com/i/status/2058342896974078242" social-type="twitter" /][p]But Usyk went straight in for the finish, unleashing a flurry of punches before the referee called off the bout with Verhoeven stumbling, but still on his feet.[/p][p]With so little time left in the round, it seemed a hugely controversial call from the referee.[/p][p][b]Despite Verhoeven soaking up heavy punishment, he was likely still leading the fight.[/b][/p][p]He had started well, landing a couple of vicious right hands in the opening round.[/p][p]Usyk struggled to find his range, and although he had a good fourth round, rocking Verhoeven with an uppercut, he seemed to be losing most of the early rounds.[/p][p]As the rounds ticked down, everyone waited for Usyk to assert his superiority, but that did not come until the end of the 11th.[/p][p]A plush right hand sent Verhoeven down and through the ropes.[/p][p]Once he was up, Usyk unleashed a barrage but the Dutchman looked like he would be saved by the bell, until the referee intervened.[/p][p]Germany's WBC mandatory challenger Agit [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kabayel-agit/23SrBI2E/"]Kabayel[/a] entered the ring after the fight to call out Usyk.[/p][p][b]"I have waited so long for this fight. I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight. Let's do it in a German stadium. I think all the fans want it," [/b]Kabayel said.[/p][p]Usyk replied: [b]"Let's do it, no problem. I am ready, brother."[/b][/p]