Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Dutch athlete Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round and defended his WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight championship titles. Usyk reported this on his Instagram page.
At the beginning of the fight, Verhoeven was more active in the attack, but later Usyk was able to “seize the initiative.” The Dutch boxer went beyond the sixth round for the first time in his career, and in the ninth he pinned the Ukrainian to the ropes.
In the 11th round, Oleksandr Usyk knocked Verhoeven down with a straight right hand. After the finisher, the referee stopped the fight and recorded a technical knockout for the Dutchman.
After the fight, Usyk mentioned in an interview that during his fight, Ukraine was under massive Russian attack.
“This [victory] is very important to me, but now my people in Ukraine are in bomb shelters, under attack. My daughter wrote to me: “Dad, you will win.” Rico, you are extraordinary. My team, I love you, you are the best. Kateryna, you are my life and my heart,” Usyk said after the fight.
The victory over Verhoeven was Usyk’s 25th in his professional career and the sixth consecutive defense of his championship titles after moving to heavyweight.
Earlier, Usyk was challenged to a fight by Briton Tyson Fury. Their possible fight could be the third confrontation in the boxers’ careers.
