In front of the pyramids, Oleksandr Usyk avoided a historic upset by stopping kick‑boxer Rico Verhoeven with a right uppercut in the final seconds of round 11. The bout was even on two judges’ cards, with a third favoring Verhoeven 96‑94 at the bell.

Usyk’s 112 punches landed against Verhoeven’s 113, yet the champion’s final blitz forced referee Mark Lyson to halt the fight at 2:59. Verhoeven, weighing 258.7 pounds, had pressured Usyk throughout, but the Ukrainian’s timing and power proved decisive.

The stoppage preserves Usyk’s 25‑0, 16‑KO record and keeps his roadmap open for a rematch or a heavyweight showdown with Agit Kabayel. Verhoeven, who dominated Glory for 4,220 days, now faces a setback that could dent his legacy.

Both fighters accepted the outcome, with Usyk saying, "Not a problem. Let's do it," while Verhoeven noted the referee’s timing but respected the final call. The result confirms Usyk’s status as the top pound‑for‑pound boxer.