'So corrupt': Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven controversy sparks mass outrage after chaotic stoppage in Egypt title fight

[Mickey the Mouth]

Rico Verhoeven appeared to be just minutes away from pulling off one of the biggest — if not the biggest — upsets in boxing history on Saturday. But in the end, it wasn’t meant to be.

Verhoeven (1-1, 1 KO), a boxing neophyte and former GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight champion, suffered a controversial 11th-round loss to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) in their WBC heavyweight title fight at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza. Despite entering what was largely seen as a novelty bout as an overwhelming underdog, Verhoeven shocked the sporting world by outboxing Usyk for long stretches before things crashed to a halt under a cloud of controversy in the penultimate round.

After Usyk rallied to score a Hail Mary knockdown late in the 11th frame, referee Mark Lyson bafflingly stopped the contest with what appeared to be zero seconds left on the clock, awarding Usyk a come-from-behind victory for the ages and prompting a cascade of outrage from across the combat sports world.

Check out reaction to Usyk vs. Verhoeven and Lyson’s stoppage below.

The bell rang … and then it was stopped. WTF.

There are bad stoppages. And then there is this disgrace. pic.twitter.com/VrL27ttsbn

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 23, 2026

It gets worse every time you watch it.

Stopped after the bell. Absolutely awful. pic.twitter.com/3tA3VlpYor

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 23, 2026

Rico Verhoeven was only ahead on one judge's scorecard entering the 11th round and even on the other two

We may have been headed for some controversy. #UsykVerhoevenpic.twitter.com/B1Kj2uUJTv

— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) May 23, 2026

Official time of stoppage was 2:59 of rd 11. That stoppage will be litigated until the end of time. #boxing#UsykRico

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) May 23, 2026

What just happened?! Bad stoppage!

This sport doesn’t stop with the fuckery! pic.twitter.com/bqFyubxpXQ

— Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) May 23, 2026

I mean that’s the most insane shit I’ve ever seen

Rico winning every round and the moment the ref sees to end it then he ends jt are you kidding

Im the biggest usyk fan but bro you lost that shit

Shoutout to rico for beating his ass every round and getting jipped

Damnnnnnn

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 23, 2026

Fam it’s embarrassing that boxing can be disrupted like that but it is what it is

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 23, 2026

Styles make fights! Those are some long limbs.

— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) May 23, 2026

I can’t believe what I’m watching

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 23, 2026

Usyk turned it on when he needed the ref helped for sure but who’s to say usyk wasn’t gone get him out of there he had plenty time.. Bad night in the office don’t look like he was in tip top shape to me!

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 23, 2026

Now run the rematch

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 23, 2026

Agreed 100 percent the ref robbed us of what was gone happen next https://t.co/a2k046fWoL

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 23, 2026

this is shocking. Usyk gotta crack Rico HARD!!! Right now!!!!

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) May 23, 2026

Don’t underestimate the no names man…. I did not expect this. Usyk need a KO!!!!

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) May 23, 2026

Wow Congratulations @usykaa ! That was SCARY!!!! Sheesh!!!

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) May 23, 2026

Outsiders will never win, trust me I know, but Rico was the winner tonight. Period. pic.twitter.com/4QojrxYX2X

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 23, 2026

We got robbed of what would have been an amazing 12th round. Amazing job @RicoVerhoeven

— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) May 23, 2026

Boxing is so corrupt

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 23, 2026

That was the most rigged shit I’ve ever seen. Never watching boxing again. What a fucking joke of a sport. Rico Verhoeven just schooled one of the best boxers in the world and still got robbed. Fuck boxing, he won that fight.

— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) May 23, 2026

Rico’s unorthodox style took him a long way but Usky’s experience and IQ was paved the way.

— Danny 'Swift' Garcia (@DannySwift) May 23, 2026

People who understand boxing better than me…
Was that a normal stoppage?
There was literally ONE second left in the round and Rico didn’t even look fully out. Very strange ending. https://t.co/GzZqGLKyKh

— Yana Santos (@YanaKunitskaya1) May 24, 2026

For more on Usyk vs. Verhoeven, check out Uncrowned's fight night hub.

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