OLEKSANDR USYK was rescued from falling victim to the greatest boxing upset EVER after a controversial stoppage win over Rico Verhoeven.
Usyk – beaten and bamboozled in several of the ten previously completed rounds – dropped Verhoeven in the corner in the 11th.
And sensing blood, he pounced on the hurt but coherent kickboxing great with a barrage of hooks.
After covering up but not responding to any of Usyk’s onslaught, British official Mark Lyson controversially stopped the contest with ONE SECOND left in the round.
Usyk, 39, wheeled off in almost thankful fashion while Verhoeven, 37, stumbled into his corner, albeit tired but certainly conscious.
The champion retained the WBC title that was so controversially sanctioned to be on the line – while his other WBA and IBF belts were not.
A relieved Usyk said: “This fight was hard. It was a good fight.”
Verhoeven, although unbeaten in the kickboxing ranks for a decade, had just one professional boxing bout before the remarkable crossover clash with a backdrop of the Egyptian Pyramids.
But for all the criticism of the crossover clash, it was Verhoeven who drew first blood with a thudding right hand just moments after the opening bell – catching Usyk off guard.
The defending, and heavily favoured, champion gathered his composure but shipped another huge rear hand to the body.
It was a confident and unexpected start from the kickboxing underdog, who used his brute 19 STONE frame well in the second.Verhoeven, deployed bullish tactics to back Usyk into the ropes but walked into a string of sneaky uppercuts while doing so.
The Dutch challenger – despite being the taller of the two – took up a squat stance and tried to weave his way into range.
Usyk on the surface looked flustered under the pressure – but in reality he was just downloading data on his unorthodox rival.
Verhoeven sunk a massive right hand into Usyk’s midrift to start round three but the champ signalled a low-blow, which had shades of his 2023 fight with Daniel Dubois.
Usyk began to walk the aggressive Verhoeven onto left hands but the challenger had a huge response of his own in the form of a clubbing right hand.
Verhoeven was made to miss with two wild hooks and took a couple back for his troubles as the tide began to turn heading into round four.
And the momentum again shifted after a left uppercut shook Verhoeven to his boots – forcing him to cover up.
He looked on shaky legs after Usyk let a combination of shots go.
But sensationally, Verhoeven fired back with two big right hands to leave Usyk uncomfortably holding.
Usyk opened round five by just grazing the chin of Verhoeven, who clumsily fell into the dangerous punching range.
The pace dropped dramatically throughout the round, suiting Usyk by enabling him to pick his man off.
Verhoeven tried to roughhouse his way into the opening of round six but soon got behind an educated and scoring left jab.
And it looked as though it was Usyk – a veteran of the 12-round distance – who was looking to take a breather.
Verhoeven kept up the momentum in round seven with a huge right hand that backed Usyk up.
The following left hook caught the 2012 Olympic champ flush on the chin and buckled his knees – with a sense of disbelief filling the purpose-built arena.
The shock continued when a huge right hand almost took Usyk’s chin off, although he somehow remained on his feet.
Usyk was under the cosh yet again in round nine, backed into the ropes and forced to desperately cover up amid a barrage of head and body shots.
Heading into the tenth and Verhoeven was again inspired, hammering Usyk into retreat with massive hooks to the stomach.
But the defending champ – under serious threat of an embarrassing and unthinkable first loss – piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the round.
A series of left hands had Verhoeven unsteady but not hurt.
Usyk upped his product at the start of the championship rounds – like he has done so many times before – in a time maybe he needed it more than ever.
And true to form, a left hand slumped Verhoeven in the corner and the gallant challenger looked like only the bell could save him.
He was afforded a vital few seconds after his gum shield fell out – with the bell actually sounding to end the round.
But the final ten seconds were restarted and Usyk put his foot on the gas – with Lyson outrageously putting the breaks on the fight.
Only Buster Douglas’ infamous 42-1 upset over Mike Tyson in 1990 could have come close to topping a Verhoeven win.
But Usyk pulled it out of the fire – although Lyson will take the heat for his decision to wave it off.
Humble Verehoven said: “I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it’s not up to me.
“I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards. I am really thankful for everyone who came out. We are at the pyramids! Thank you so much.”
