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.
