Usyk keeps titles with controversial Verhoeven stoppage

Oleksandr Usyk struck lucky to retain his world heavyweight titles in Egypt with a highly controversial 11th-round stoppage win against boxing novice Rico Verhoeven.

Verhoeven, in just his second professional boxing fight, was the clear aggressor for long spells, stunning generational great Usyk in a way nobody expected.

In a surprisingly tight contest, Ukrainian Usyk produced a late surge and landed a sharp left uppercut that sent the Dutchman to the canvas.

Verhoeven beat the count, but a follow-up flurry in the closing seconds of the round prompted the referee to step in and wave it off - a decision that looked extremely harsh on the challenger.

The scorecards at the time of the fight coming to a halt read 95-95, 95-95 and 96-94 to Verhoeven.

"This fight was hard. It was a good fight," Usyk said. In a contest many expected to expose the gulf between elite boxing pedigree and crossover ambition, unbeaten Usyk looked uncharacteristically laboured.

The 39-year-old - a three-time undisputed champion who ruled at cruiserweight and heavyweight - found a way to win his 25th professional fight, but his opponent questioned the outcome.

Kickboxing legend Verhoeven, 37, described it as an "early stoppage" and called for a rematch but said it was up to Usyk.

"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," Verhoeven said.