Usyk vs Rico score cards: How the judges had it scored at the time of stoppage

[Mickey the Mouth]

CAIRO, EGYPT - MAY 23: Oleksandr Usyk looks on after winning by TKO during the WBC and WBA World Heavyweight Titles fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven as part of the Glory in Giza Fight Night at Pyramids Panorama 2 on May 23, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rico Verhoeven led on one score card at the time of today’s controversial stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk, though he wouldn’t have had the fight gone into the 12th round.

At the end of 10 rounds, two judges (Manuel Oliver Palomo and Fabian Guggenheim) had the fight scored even, 95-95, with judge Pasquale Procopio scoring Verhoeven ahead, 96-94.

But Usyk (25-0, 16 KO) had scored a knockdown late in the 11th round, before a further flurry led referee Mark Lyson to stopping the fight at 2:59, just before the break to end that round and go into the 12th.

The debate over the stoppage is obvious, with Verhoeven himself saying he wishes he’d had the chance to at least “go out on his shield” in Round 12. But given that Usyk would have had a 10-8 round across the board, we would have started the 12th and final round with Usyk up 105-103 on two cards, and the third even at 104-104.

Many, I’m guessing, still would have rather seen what would have happened from there, even if the odds are that Usyk would have scored a 12th round stoppage of a tired, hurt Verhoeven, who may not have had enough time to recover from the 11th round onslaught from his opponent.

The cards, via Matchroom Boxing:

Read the full recap...