Oleksandr Usyk avoided one of sport’s biggest-ever upsets against Rico Verhoeven as he delivered a controversial late stoppage of the kickboxer to retain his unified world heavyweight titles.
Referee Mark Lyson waved off Saturday night’s unexpectedly thrilling main event held against a stunning backdrop at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt with just one second remaining in the 11th round, with a tired Verhoeven absorbing heavy punishment against the ropes.
Verhoeven had moments before been knocked down by a spiteful uppercut and was on notably unsteady legs, but was given time to refit his mouthguard in a move that appeared likely to ensure that he made the final round.
However, Lyson felt that he was taking too many punches and despite the bell being imminent, stepped in to call a halt to proceedings, much to the frustration of Verhoeven and his team.
It had otherwise been a sensational performance from the Dutchman, a kickboxing icon 12 years removed from his only previous professional boxing fight, who few people gave any chance at all of remotely troubling, let alone beating, the sport’s pound-for-pound No1, a three-time undisputed champion regarded by most as the best on the planet.
Verhoeven - coached by Tyson Fury’s uncle Peter Fury - looked like he was seriously threatening boxing’s biggest shock and the most high-profile heavyweight upset since 42-1 shot Buster Douglas stunned then-unbeaten and undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Tokyo, 36 years ago.
He largely outworked Usyk, who looked out-of-sorts and unusually sluggish and tentative from the outset as he struggled badly to match his usual performance levels against an opponent who had never been past five rounds in any fight.
One judge had Verhoeven leading by a round at the time of the stoppage, while two others had the fight level after 10.
He will now hope for a rematch, though all signs appear to be pointing towards Usyk next taking on WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, who was in the ring after his win over Verhoeven stating his case for a title fight in his native Germany.
“I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it's not up to me,” said Verhoeven. “I was already super thankful for this opportunity for Usyk to take this fight.
“His Excellency (Turki Alalshikh) told me he wants a rematch, but it's not up to me. Let's see what happens.
“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. I am really thankful for everyone who came out. We are at the pyramids! Thank you so much.
“I am super proud of my performance and hopefully the boxing world embraces me as a boxer. I am amazingly happy to be here.”
Usyk said: “Thank you so much. 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'.
“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.
“This fight was hard. It was a good fight. Thank you God.”
On Saturday's undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz became a world champion for the first time at the second attempt as he overwhelmed Germany’s Alem Begic in round two of a total mismatch to collect the vacant WBO super-middleweight crown, with Canelo Alvarez now in his sights.
Sheeraz's fellow Briton Jack Catterall won the WBA's 'regular' welterweight title with a punch-perfect unanimous decision win over Shakhram Giyasov, whom he knocked down within 90 seconds of round one and dominated thereafter to tee up a potential future showdown with Rolly Romero.
Cuba's Frank Sanchez became the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title still held by Usyk with a devastating second-round knockout of the previously unbeaten American contender Richard Torrez Jr.
Japan's Mizuki Hiruta provided the seventh successful defence of her WBO super-flyweight belt by brushing aside Mai Soliman, after Usyk's friend and training partner Daniel Lapin was stunned by a fourth-round stoppage from Benjamin Mendes Tani of France.
In the early prelims, there were statement stoppages from Jamar Talley and Sultan Almohammed, plus points wins for Mahmoud Mobark and Omar Hikal.
