Oleksandr Usyk, Ukraine’s unbeaten heavyweight world champion, stopped the Dutch former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with one second remaining in the penultimate round to avoid what would have been one of the greatest boxing upsets of all time on Saturday.

The WBC title fight at the Pyramids of Giza was considered a mismatch but Verhoeven, whose sole previous professional boxing fight was 12 years ago, tore up the script in mind-boggling fashion from the opening bell and had looked set to win.

Until the controversial stoppage, he had proved to be more than a tricky competitor and gave Usyk a huge scare. His jerky style, bulldozing aggression and powerful right hand had troubled a sluggish-looking Usyk for most of the fight.

In a chaotic ending, Usyk dropped the challenger late in the 11th round and the referee waved it off after Usyk pounced when Verhoeven beat the count shortly before the bell.

With so little time left in the round, it seemed a hugely controversial call from the referee. “I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it’s not up to me,” Verhoeven said moments later while still in the ring.

He had started well, landing a couple of vicious right hands in the opening round. Usyk struggled to find his range and, although he had a good fourth round, rocking Verhoeven with an uppercut, he seemed to be losing most of the early rounds.

As the rounds ticked down everyone waited for Usyk to assert his superiority, but that did not come until the end of the 11th.

A plush right hand sent Verhoeven down and through the ropes. Once he was up, Usyk unleashed a barrage. His opponent looked like he would be saved by the bell, until the referee intervened.