Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven scorecards reveal champion trailed before TKO
Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBC and WBA heavyweight titles on Saturday, May 23, 2026, after an 11th-round TKO victory over Rico Verhoeven that has left the boxing world in heated debate. Despite the stoppage, official scorecards from the “Glory in Giza” event show the pound-for-pound king was not leading on a single card when referee Mark Lyson ended the contest at the Pyramids of Giza.
The Dutch challenger, a dominant force in GLORY Kickboxing making a rare appearance in the boxing ring, nearly authored a historic upset. Verhoeven utilized his frame and a persistent jab to disrupt the Ukrainian champion’s rhythm for the better part of ten rounds. By the time the fight reached the 11th, the atmosphere in Cairo was thick with tension as the undefeated Usyk struggled to pull away from his less-experienced opponent.
Official tallies at the time of the stoppage revealed that judges Fabian Guggenheim and Manuel Oliver Palomo both had the bout even at 95-95. The third official, Pasquale Procopio, had Rico Verhoeven leading 96-94. These figures suggest that had the fight gone the distance, the result would have been anyone’s guess, especially with Verhoeven slightly outlanding Usyk 113 to 112 according to CompuBox data.
Inside the controversial Usyk vs Verhoeven scorecards
The card submitted by Manuel Oliver Palomo reflected just how competitive the evening was near the Giza Necropolis. Palomo awarded the first two rounds to the challenger, Verhoeven, before seeing the middle of the fight in the champion’s favor. For instance, Palomo scored Round 8 for Usyk, highlighting a brief shift in momentum before the gritty 11th-round finish.
In contrast, Judge Pasquale Procopio remained impressed by the kickboxer’s output and clinch work, keeping him ahead for the majority of the back half of the fight. This disagreement among officials mirrors the unpredictable nature of top-tier combat sports. It is a level of tension similar to when Novak Djokovic meets Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a major tournament, where a seasoned master faces an unorthodox, powerful threat.
Usyk’s difficulty in securing a clear lead before the knockout has raised questions about his current form. While he found the finishing sequence at 2:59 of the 11th round, his inability to dominate a fighter with a 1-1 professional boxing record is a statistical rarity. The champion’s record moves to 25-0 with 16 KOs, but the narrowness of the margin will likely follow him into his next camp.
Referees and reactions to the 11th round TKO
The ending itself proved as polarizing as the scoring. Usyk pinned Verhoeven against the ropes and unleashed a barrage of punches, leading Mark Lyson to step in. Verhoeven immediately protested, arguing he should have been allowed to “go out on his shield” in the final round. DAZN News went as far as to label the intervention “the worst stoppage of heavyweight title fight history.”
“I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me,” Rico Verhoeven stated after the bout. He noted that he felt the scorecards were nearly even and expressed pride in showing he belongs in the boxing world. For his part, Usyk remained respectful, calling Verhoeven an “amazing fighter” and thanking him for the challenge in front of the Cairo crowd.
Referee Mark Lyson has faced scrutiny before over contested decisions in high-profile bouts. His decision to end the fight while Verhoeven was still on his feet has added to a reputation for controversial timing. Much like how Toto Wolff reacts to George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli contact in a race, combat sports officials often find their split-second choices dissected by the global community for weeks.
Heavyweight division landscape after the Pyramids clash
The result leaves the heavyweight division in an unusual state. Usyk possesses the WBC and WBA belts, but the aura of invincibility has been dampened by Verhoeven’s performance. Rival camps will undoubtedly look at the 10 rounds of tape where a kickboxer was able to match the champion’s punch count. This may accelerate talks for a rematch or a unification bout to clear the air.
For Verhoeven, the loss is arguably a massive career boost. Coming in as a heavy underdog, he proved that his striking translates effectively to the boxing ring against the very best. Whether he continues to pursue boxing or returns to kickboxing remains to be seen, but his performance at the Pyramids of Giza has earned him a new level of respect among boxing purists.
The “Glory in Giza” event will likely be remembered for its cinematic setting and the wild scorecards that nearly saw the pound-for-pound crown change hands. As the sport moves toward the late 2026 schedule, the fallout from this heavyweight encounter will stay at the forefront of the conversation. Boxing is often unpredictable, but few expected a night at the Pyramids to be quite this chaotic.