Oleksandr Usyk needed 32 minutes and 58 seconds to defeat kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt, but the undefeated heavyweight champion struggled mightily against his unorthodox opponent. Verhoeven's size advantage and unconventional style pushed Usyk to the brink, with the fight appearing close on the scorecards entering Round 11 before a controversial stoppage gave Usyk the knockout victory.

The performance raised immediate questions about whether 39-year-old Usyk is showing signs of decline or simply faced an unexpectedly difficult challenge. Verhoeven's constant feints and movement troubled the normally calculated champion throughout the bout, leaving many to wonder if Father Time is finally catching up to the three-division king. Despite the struggles, Usyk's will to win shone through when it mattered most.

On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title and immediately called out Canelo Alvarez, though the Mexican star faces Christian Mbilli in September. Jack Catterall also secured a secondary WBA welterweight belt with an impressive performance against Shakhram Giyasov.

Usyk's legacy took a hit Saturday night, regardless of the victory. The performance exposed vulnerabilities that future opponents will study closely, and the debate over his pound-for-pound standing will intensify until he proves this was simply an off-night rather than the beginning of the end.