Usyk vs Rico: Ukrainian heavyweight champion stops starters with controversial 11th round stoppage victory

Lucky Oleksandr Usyk defeated boxing rookie Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round to retain his world heavyweight title in Egypt.

Verhoeven, in his second professional boxing match, has been the star of his generation, Usyk, who has long been the clear aggressor.

Perhaps behind the judges’ cards, Usyk of Ukraine made a late switch and landed a sharp left hook to the left.

Verhoeven beat the count, but a series of scuffles in the final seconds of the contest prompted the referee to step in and wave him off – a decision that was extremely harsh on his opponent.