They say it was tense watching my fight with Rico😄 Guys, I just didn’t want you to be bored, come on. pic.twitter.com/sx98sd2ueo
— Oleksandr Usyk (@usikaa) May 24, 2026
The undisputed heavyweight champion fought a markedly different style against Rico during Saturday night’s event at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Instead of controlling distance and limiting exchanges, Usyk spent long stretches standing directly in front of Rico and trading punches in a dramatic back-and-forth battle.
That approach helped turn the contest into one of the most talked about fights of the year. Rico landed far more clean shots than many fans expected, and there were several moments where Usyk willingly stayed in range and traded instead of setting back and boxing from the outside.
The fight ended in controversy in the 11th round when referee Mark Lyson stopped the fight just after the bell rang. Many fans believed Rico should have been allowed to continue in the 12th round after surviving the knockdown.
Usyk’s post only added more fuel to the debate. Some fans saw the message as the champion intentionally making jokes about creating drama, while others argued that Rico’s success had nothing to do with entertainment and everything to do with the pressure he was able to exert during the fight.
Reaction to the post continued to grow throughout Sunday, with hundreds of comments debating whether Usyk deliberately chose a more risqué style for the sake of entertainment.
Even with the controversy, Usyk has retained his undisputed heavyweight championship and remains in position for possible fights against Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, or a rematch with Rico.
