Breaking down Oleksandr Usyk's win and the questio...
Key takeaways
- Usyk struggled for long stretches against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on Saturday in Giza, Egypt, as the massive underdog pushed the undefeated Usyk far more than expected.
- On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title and once again called out former champion Canelo Alvarez immediately afterward to face him.
- Meanwhile, Jack Catterall finally captured a world title, claiming a secondary WBA welterweight belt in his debut at 147 pounds.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Oleksandr Usyk, left, needed 11 rounds to stop Rico Verhoeven in their heavyweight title fight on Saturday. Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing ESPNMultiple Authors May 23, 2026, 10:23 PM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions Oleksandr Usyk needed 32 minutes and 58 seconds to secure the 25th victory of his professional career, but it was far from an easy night for the heavyweight champion.
Usyk struggled for long stretches against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on Saturday in Giza, Egypt, as the massive underdog pushed the undefeated Usyk far more than expected. Usyk appeared uncomfortable at times dealing with Verhoeven's size, physicality and unorthodox style, raising questions about whether the performance was a sign of age beginning to catch up with the champion or simply the challenge of facing a non-traditional opponent.
On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title and once again called out former champion Canelo Alvarez immediately afterward to face him. However, with Alvarez facing Christian Mbilli on Sept. 12, his attention now turns to what realistic options he could have, as he begins his reign at 168 pounds.