Oleksandr Usyk secured the 25th victory of his professional career in a challenging bout against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt. The undefeated three-time undisputed champion and ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer faced unexpected difficulty from Verhoeven, a massive underdog who pushed Usyk far more than anticipated. Usyk, at 39, appeared uncomfortable for significant stretches, struggling with Verhoeven's size, physicality, and unorthodox style. This performance has sparked debate among experts like Andreas Hale, Nick Parkinson, and James Regan, raising questions about whether age is beginning to catch up with the champion or if it was simply the unique challenge posed by a nontraditional opponent.

Verhoeven, leveraging a 2-inch size advantage and unorthodox movement, prevented Usyk from finding his usual rhythm. The fight was remarkably close on the judges' scorecards entering Round 11, with some observers considering it one of the biggest potential boxing upsets since Buster Douglas defeated Mike Tyson in 1990. However, Usyk's renowned will to win ultimately prevailed. He summoned an incomprehensible resolve and landed a perfectly timed uppercut, leading to Verhoeven's knockdown. Usyk then followed with power punches, securing a controversial stoppage with just one second left in the round. While Usyk remains undefeated, the struggle he faced against a kickboxer with only one prior professional boxing match in 2014 has certainly put his pound-for-pound status under scrutiny. The debate continues whether it was a sign of 'Father Time' affecting Usyk's movement, reflexes, and speed, or if Verhoeven's distinct fighting style, unlike anything Usyk had faced from traditional boxers, was the true cause of his discomfort.

On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz captured the vacant WBO super middleweight title by stopping Alem Begic in Round 2. Immediately after his victory, Sheeraz once again called out former champion Canelo Alvarez, a fighter he had also targeted after his July 2025 knockout win over Edgar Berlanga. However, with Alvarez scheduled to face Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia on September 12, Sheeraz's pursuit of the Mexican superstar will likely have to wait, possibly until May 2027. In the interim, Sheeraz is expected to take another fight, potentially against a top WBO contender like Jacob Bank. His manager and adviser, Spencer Brown, expressed a desire for Sheeraz to have one more significant fight in England before moving on to face Alvarez. Sheeraz has proven to be a destructive force, with 17 stoppage victories since 2018.

Also making headlines was Jack Catterall, who finally captured a world title, claiming a secondary WBA welterweight belt in his debut at 147 pounds. Catterall delivered arguably the best performance of his career, controlling and dominating Shakhram Giyasov to earn a remarkable unanimous decision victory. He set the tone early by sending Giyasov to the canvas in Round 1. Catterall is now in line to fight WBA 'super' champion Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, a bout mandated by the WBA. However, Romero has expressed frustration with inactivity and recently claimed retirement. Should Romero indeed retire, Catterall could be elevated to full champion without another fight, an outcome many believe he deserves after a long journey that included a controversial decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2022 and a close contest against Arnold Barboza Jr. in 2025 before his move to welterweight. Catterall's technical ability and power make him a legitimate threat in the 147-pound division, and he is now a serious contender for major fights under the brightest lights.