Well, Oleksandr Usyk retains his WBC world title and his unbeaten status but he didn't half make hard work of it. Credit to Rico Verhoeven for an incredible effort.

Anyway, that's your lot from us tonight but make sure you have a read of Kal Sajad's report.

See you again soon.

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

Somebody didn't read the room [after the fight]. This was about Rico and Oleksandr celebrating everything. Agit Kabayal, one of the nicest guys in boxing, wasn't in the ring to hijack the moment, he was forced in there.

Turki Al-Sheikh was the voice of reason, saying this is not the time for Kabayal to come face-to-face with Usyk and start selling that fight. This is about Rico and Usyk. Agit knows his role, he was respectful. Usyk was respectful of both of them.

It worked out okay but there was a moment where I was furious. After an incredible fight like that, in this location, to have that overtaken by some tinpot fella trying to hoist another boxer on Usyk, it was bad form. Ugly scenes there.

A very, very close fight.

Here are the round-by-round punching stats.

You can see exactly how close it was here.

More from Rico Verhoeven after his defeat: "What a transition this was. Six months of hard work. Transitioning to boxing was crazy but I hope it paid off and I hope you guys liked it.

"I want to say thank you to my whole team for helping me through this transition, day and night. I love you guys.

"I will be back."

WBC number one contender Agit Kabayal speaking to DAZN after the fight: "First of all, congratulations to Oleksandr. I have waited so long for this fight. I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight. Let's do it in a German stadium. I think all the fans want it. Let's do it."

Oleksandr Usyk responds: "Let's do it, no problem. I am ready, brother."

Two judges had it 95-95 and the other had it 96-94 for Rico Verhoeven.

It would've gone right to the wire.

Image source, Ariel Helwani

Agit Kabayel's manager Spencer Brown, speaking to DAZN: "It's going to be ordered, they are going to fight. I am speechless at Rico; it was an unbelievable performance, but there is a new challenger now [Agit Kabayel]. He is in line now; there can only be one fight. They have both agreed to it, let's get it on.

"They are both ready. Whenever they want, I am hoping in September or October. In Germany."

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

Was Rico trapped on the ropes, getting hurt? Yes, he was - but that is part of the business. Could he have continued? Yes!

Richie Woodhall
Former boxing world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

There is certainly going to be questions asked and there will definitely be rematch because of it.

Rico Verhoeven, speaking to DAZN after his defeat: "I thought it was an early stoppage but in the end it's not up to me. I was already super thankful for this opportunity for Usyk to take this fight.

"His excellency told me he wants a rematch, but it's not up to me. Let's see what happens.

"I wanted the referee to let me go out on my shield or let me go in the twelfth. I felt we were pretty even on the scorecards. I am really thankful for everyone who came out. We are at the pyramids! Thank you so much.

"I am super proud of my performance and hopefully, the boxing world embraces me as a boxer. I am amazingly happy to be here."

Oleksandr Usyk, speaking to DAZN after his victory: "Thank you so much. I know right now, Ukrainian people are sitting in the bomb shelter, my daughter too, in a bomb shelter, sent me a message saying, 'Papa, I love you, you will win'.

"Thank you so much, Rico. You are an amazing fighter. Thank you so much to your team. My team, I love you. My wife, I love you. You are my light and my heart.

"This fight was hard. It was a good fight. Thank you, God."

Agit Kabayal is in the ring and face-to-face with Oleksandr Usyk. He wants to fight the world champion in a stadium in Germany.

Usyk says, "I'm ready".

Rico Verhoeven is unhappy he wasn't able to "go out on his shield".

The stoppage came with one second of the 11th round remaining. Wow.

Oleksandr Usyk has been in the ring with Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois but Rico Verhoeven may be his toughest fight yet.

Really interesting to see the judges' scorecards at the point of the stoppage.

Usyk was in trouble but that right uppercut is a get-out-of-jail-free card and it came up clutch for him again.

He keeps hold of his WBC heavyweight world title.

The result also means Usyk keeps hold of his WBA 'super' and IBF belts.

Ronald McIntosh
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think it's inaccurate to say that Usyk has just had the hardest heavyweight fight of his life.

The bell for the end of the 11th round was a few seconds away but the referee stopped the fight.

That's early for me but I'm not on the end of those hard, punishing punches.