Usyk vs Verhoeven: The Night the Aura Cracked .

Last night in Giza, Oleksandr Usyk walked out 24-0, undisputed, and untouchable. He walked out 12 rounds later still unbeaten, still holding the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles. But he didn’t walk out untouchable anymore.

Oleksandr Usyk stopped Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round on May 23, 2026. On paper, it’s another win for the best heavyweight of this era. Watch the fight, and you saw something else: a 39-year-old legend pushed to the brink by a kickboxing legend fighting only his second pro boxing match.

Here’s what went down, and what it means for what’s next.

How it went down

The first 3 rounds looked normal. Usyk used his footwork, landed jabs, and made Verhoeven miss. By round 4, Verhoeven adjusted. He cut the ring off, walked Usyk down, and started landing right hands to the body and head.

From rounds 5 to 10, it was Verhoeven’s fight. He outworked Usyk, backed him to the ropes, and landed the cleaner shots. Usyk, at 233.25 lbs - the heaviest of his career - looked slow. His legs weren’t there. He was breathing heavy. For the first time since 2013, Usyk looked beatable.

The 11th round changed everything. Usyk landed a left straight that wobbled Verhoeven against the ropes. He jumped on him with a flurry. Verhoeven was still standing when the bell rang, but the referee stepped in and waved it off. Verhoeven was furious. So were a lot of fans. 

Official result: Usyk TKO 11. Unofficial result: a lot of questions.

Why this fight matters

*1. The aura is gone*  

Usyk built his legacy on making elite heavyweights look ordinary. He outboxed Joshua twice, outfoxed Fury, and beat Dubois twice. Nobody had ever made him look old. Verhoeven did.  

Now every contender knows there’s a path: pressure him early, make him fight at a pace he hates, and drag him into deep water. The myth of invincibility is cracked.

*2. Agit Kabayel is next*  

Right after the fight, WBC #1 contender Agit Kabayel jumped into the ring. He’s the mandatory, and Turki Alalshikh confirmed it’s happening next. The target is Istanbul, Turkey, later this year.

This is a real test. Kabayel is 25-0, pressure-focused, and technically solid. If Usyk can’t beat him convincingly, the Verhoeven fight wasn’t a fluke. Win here, and Usyk keeps the belts unified. Lose, and he loses undisputed status.

*3. Verhoeven 2 is coming*  

Verhoeven and his team are appealing the stoppage. They believe he was winning and the ref jumped in too fast. Alalshikh agreed, saying Verhoeven “deserves a rematch after Kabayel” and wants it in Holland.

Usyk said he’s ready for both: “If your organisation is, I am ready. I can box them both.” A rematch in Amsterdam sells itself. Verhoeven proved he belongs, and the first fight did over 1M PPV buys in Europe.

*4. Time is the real opponent*  

Usyk is 39. He’s been in wars with Joshua, Fury, and Dubois. Fighters don’t get faster at 40. He’s talking about legacy fights now, not building his record. That usually means the end is near.

If he beats Kabayel and Verhoeven again, he retires as the undisputed king who fought everyone. If he loses, people will point to Giza as the night it started.

What’s next for Usyk

The plan looks like this:

1. *Usyk vs Kabayel* – Mandatory defense, likely October/November 2026

2. *Usyk vs Verhoeven 2* – If he wins, target December 2026 in Amsterdam  

3. *Retirement or Fury 3* – If he’s 27-0, one more superfight makes sense

Usyk kept his belts and his 0 last night. But he lost something more valuable: the idea that nobody can touch him.

He’s still the best heavyweight in the world. But for the first time in years, he looks beatable. 

And that makes the next 12 months the most interesting of his career.