Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven | DAZN - May 23, 2026

[Sendo Takeshi]

Itauma vs Sanchez/Torrez winner later this year for the vacant IBF title?

[joshj909]

Itauma vs Sanchez/Torrez winner later this year for the vacant IBF title?

Itauma would likely have to win an eliminator for that. Jalolov or Hrgovic as the opponent?

[fifth_root]

a new gutter level

This is the most disgraceful title defense ever, literally.

You guys are overreacting. At least Verhoeven is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Boxing has seen far worse title defenses. Tommy Morrison defended his title against a guy who was literally drinking beer in the crowd when the original opponent pulled out and got thrown in on short notice.

History is full of similar cherry-picked mismatches, especially in the heavyweight division.

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

[Sendo Takeshi]

a new gutter level

This is the most disgraceful title defense ever, literally.

You guys are overreacting. At least Verhoeven is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Boxing has seen far worse title defenses. Tommy Morrison defended his title against a guy who was literally drinking beer in the crowd when the original opponent pulled out and got thrown in on short notice.

History is full of similar cherry-picked mismatches, especially in the heavyweight division.

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

[Sendo Takeshi]

Itauma vs Sanchez/Torrez winner later this year for the vacant IBF title?

Itauma would likely have to win an eliminator for that. Jalolov or Hrgovic as the opponent?

Tough to say. There is no #1 and #2 in the IBF. Sanchez and Torrez are #3 and #4 and Itauma is #5.
I guess Itauma is gonna be the secound highest ranked heavyweight after that fight.

Even though I'm pretty sure Hrgovic was in the plans for Itauma later this year.
You can say alot about Frank, but he planned this stuff through for Itauma.

[fifth_root]

You guys are overreacting. At least Verhoeven is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Boxing has seen far worse title defenses. Tommy Morrison defended his title against a guy who was literally drinking beer in the crowd when the original opponent pulled out and got thrown in on short notice.

History is full of similar cherry-picked mismatches, especially in the heavyweight division.

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

Oh, so you are the official speaker of "credible sources"? This approach is so typical, combined with another cliche - "hater". Why would I be a hater by stating facts? Did I say Usyk is a *hitty boxer? Am I obliged to like/love somebody? In that sense, you don't sound very positive towards me, without even knowing me.

Keep trying to reason how this is not the poorest defence move in boxing's history if that calms you. I have a bad surprise for you - some people agree, and you can't do anything to change it.

[joshj909]

Itauma vs Sanchez/Torrez winner later this year for the vacant IBF title?

Itauma would likely have to win an eliminator for that. Jalolov or Hrgovic as the opponent?

Tough to say. There is no #1 and #2 in the IBF. Sanchez and Torrez are #3 and #4 and Itauma is #5.
I guess Itauma is gonna be the secound highest ranked heavyweight after that fight.

Even though I'm pretty sure Hrgovic was in the plans for Itauma later this year.
You can say alot about Frank, but he planned this stuff through for Itauma.

IBF don't have top 2 ranked guys until they win an eliminator. Sanchez/Torrez Will enter at #1. Itauma will get asked to fight for the second spot so it's whether he accepts it and who else accepts it.

[Sendo Takeshi]

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

Oh, so you are the official speaker of "credible sources"?

I'm just going by actual results and expert consensus. Facts don't care about your opinion.

Calling someone a hater isn’t a cliché when you use terms like “cheaty belly”.
Dislike whoever you want, but don’t pretend it’s purely objective analysis.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Thomastearns]

You guys are overreacting. At least Verhoeven is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Boxing has seen far worse title defenses. Tommy Morrison defended his title against a guy who was literally drinking beer in the crowd when the original opponent pulled out and got thrown in on short notice.

History is full of similar cherry-picked mismatches, especially in the heavyweight division.

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

That's it, this only a boxing match only in name, primarily this is a business transaction.

Whether we like it or not, all the big money crossover fights have been with MMA fighters/YouTubers crossing over to boxing.

Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor was a real MMA fight and sold $180 million buys whilst Mayweather v McGregor, a pugilistic farce in comparison, sold $410 million buys.

And as much as we'd like to see the likes of Mayweather go into the Octagon, it's not going to happen.

The outcome would be a foregone conclusion.

Even a true crossover experiment, a mixture of boxing v wrestling, when Muhammad Ali took on Japanese wrestling star Antonio Inoki in 1976, almost ended in disaster for the greatest.

In a pure wrestling match, even the legendary Ali would have had no chance. In fact his legs barely survived that fight.

However, the causal social media fight crowd aren't interested in any such quibbles, they don't have the time or interest for any of that, and will no doubt will be watching in great numers come next Saturday.

Who knows, it might even be entertaining in itself, if entertainment is what you're after.

It just won't be a serious boxing match. How could it be?

The closest we came to seeing an accident was when Ngannou dropped Fury early on in their encounter.

Not too long afterwards Anthony Joshua demonstrated the gulf that exists between different disciplines by demolishing Ngannou.

Had it been in the Octagon, Ngannou would obviously have won but he wouldn't have been paid as nearly as much.

[gilgamesh]

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

That's it, this only a boxing match only in name, primarily this is a business transaction.

Whether we like it or not, all the big money crossover fights have been with MMA fighters/YouTubers crossing over to boxing.

Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor was a real MMA fight and sold $180 million buys whilst Mayweather v McGregor, a pugilistic farce in comparison, sold $410 million buys.

And as much as we'd like to see the likes of Mayweather go into the Octagon, it's not going to happen.

The outcome would be a foregone conclusion.

Even a true crossover experiment, a mixture of boxing v wrestling, when Muhammad Ali took on Japanese wrestling star Antonio Inoki in 1976, almost ended in disaster for the greatest.

In a pure wrestling match, even the legendary Ali would have had no chance. In fact his legs barely survived that fight.

However, the causal social media fight crowd aren't interested in any such quibbles, they don't have the time or interest for any of that, and will no doubt will be watching in great numers come next Saturday.

Who knows, it might even be entertaining in itself, if entertainment is what you're after.

It just won't be a serious boxing match. How could it be?

The closest we came to seeing an accident was when Ngannou dropped Fury early on in their encounter.

Not too long afterwards Anthony Joshua demonstrated the gulf that exists between different disciplines by demolishing Ngannou.

Had it been in the Octagon, Ngannou would obviously have won but he wouldn't have been paid as nearly as much.

How could it be?

Because Rico Verhoeven is a Professional Fighter of the Highest level in his sport, and is tough as all hell, and is not going to be showing up with the intention of losing or making a fool of himself.

Being a Kickboxer he will either be aggressive early or he'll be extra cautious to try to pace himself for the longer distance that comes with a Boxing match.

If he tries to stay at a distance and box with Usyk he's going to get picked apart bit by bit. If he tries to use his bigger size, and strength advantage to shove Usyk around and work his body on the ropes he likely will be countered on the way in at some point and knocked out, but I feel like that's his only real chance.

He may have awkward timing that'll throw Usyk off a little given his Kickboxing background. Also Rico has definitely been punched a lot harder than Usyk can punch him. Usyk is a highly skilled operator, but he's not a devastating one shot hitter so he's not just going to blast Rico out of there with 1 flurry of punches.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘I like the challenge’: Rico Verhoeven says he’s ready for the moment, facing Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven will fight in Giza this weekend.



Closing in on this weekend’s heavyweight fight between Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven, airing live in front of the Egyptian pyramids this Saturday, DAZN takes fans behind the scenes of the training camps of both fighters as they prepare for the event.

As specifically highlighted with respect to Usyk, the 39-year-old fighter is training as hard as ever and seems to perform as capable as he ever has, causing those close to him to admire at the consistency.

“I do this everyday,” Usyk said of one of his hard training sessions. “I like training, I like hard training because I think God, Jesus Christ, like this, clean my soul — I think. I don’t know [if] it’s true, if it’s not true but when I train hard, I every time pray.”

Usyk continue on to explain how every detail of his training camp is carefully managed from the training to the diet, even including the time he’s allowed to eat (and, of course, the content).

Later in the video we check in on Rico, who explains that he’s tapering down his training sessions as the fight draws near, and he’s just mostly focused on the fine tuning his approach.

“I like the challenge,” Verhoeven said of this fight with Usyk. “I just do not like to be comfortable…I like the challenges in life because I like to grow and I like to learn, and I like to get better, especially on the highest level. So this opportunity rose up, so we rose to the occasion.”

Expanding on his mindset, Verhoeven shares some of his personal background and difficult upbringing which forced him to learn life lessons that molded him into becoming a world champion kickboxer. Oleksandr Usyk will be his latest hurdle but Verhoeven feels prepared for the moment.

[gilgamesh]

What's the Times for this one Ruthie? I know being in Egypt this one could throw us all off a bit as far as when the broadcast starts

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

What's the Times for this one Ruthie? I know being in Egypt this one could throw us all off a bit as far as when the broadcast starts

It’ll probably be similar to the Riyadh cards tbh. Or hour early. They want to cater to UK fans I reckon

[gilgamesh]

As a gawdy piece of Championship jewelry that King of the Nile belt is actually pretty cool.

If any of these guys ever sell these things off when they're old men, and just want or need the money, these 1 off belts that were made for just 1 fight would actually probably wind up being worth more to collectors than a standard Championship belt actually. So in that sense they do have value for the winners of them.

[Taansend]

What's the Times for this one Ruthie? I know being in Egypt this one could throw us all off a bit as far as when the broadcast starts

When the shadow reaches the 3rd sector the fight will commence.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk still wants undisputed status despite Wardley, Itauma hurdles

Oleksandr Usyk has at least one more major goal left to accomplish before hanging up his gloves for good.

The 39-year-old has said on numerous occasions that he has just three fights before he walks away.

One of the trio will come this weekend when taking on kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven at The Ring's Glory in Giza card at Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt, streamed live as part of DAZN's Ultimate tier plan.

During one particular video, DAZN watched The Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight champion as he trained. After his session, Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) pointed to a wall with three dates written on it and explained their meaning.

“This is my first undisputed at cruiserweight,” Usyk said while pointing to a writing on the wall that had 2018 scribbled on it. “2024 Saudi, this is my second undisputed. London 2025, this is my third undisputed. In 2026, four undisputed.”

Usyk’s plan to become an undisputed champion would involve a third fight against Daniel Dubois. The Ring’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pounder dominated him in August 2023 and July 2025, stopping him both times.

However, Dubois became a two-time world champion after an 11th-round stoppage win over previously-unbeaten beltholder Fabio Wardley on May 9 and holds the WBO strap. There is a chance though, Usyk fights a fresh face.

Wardley activated his rematch clause for an immediate rematch, to take place sometime in the year's fourth quarter. Additionally, the WBO has been clear on their stance regarding Moses Itauma, its No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger, getting his title shot at some stage.

Ultimately, a few things have happen first before Usyk gets an opportunity to claim undisputed status a fourth time across two weight divisions.

First, the heavy favorite must get past Verhoeven unscathed before fighting WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, or risk being stripped by the sanctioning body.

[Eolaithe]

Why is there a poll for this fight when Verhoeven has only had one boxing bout against an opponent that never won a fight (KO’d in all losses)?

I appreciate his sparring experience with the Fury’s, coupled with his kickboxing and MMA credentials, but he’s facing Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Why is there a poll for this fight when Verhoeven has only had one boxing bout against an opponent that never won a fight (KO’d in all losses)?

like all fight threads, there is always a poll

[Eolaithe]

Why is there a poll for this fight when Verhoeven has only had one boxing bout against an opponent that never won a fight (KO’d in all losses)?

like all fight threads, there is always a poll

[881073]

First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense, because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk. Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.

Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

Oh, so you are the official speaker of "credible sources"? This approach is so typical, combined with another cliche - "hater". Why would I be a hater by stating facts? Did I say Usyk is a *hitty boxer? Am I obliged to like/love somebody? In that sense, you don't sound very positive towards me, without even knowing me.

Keep trying to reason how this is not the poorest defence move in boxing's history if that calms you. I have a bad surprise for you - some people agree, and you can't do anything to change it.

You don't have any sources, because if you would have had, you wouldn't be able to write such nonsense.
You're not stating facts, you stated "First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense", that's obviously completely wrong, Rico is simply by far the best competition out there by far at this very moment.
Then you state "because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk", well first of all Rico is by fer the best super heavyweight kickboxer in the history of the sport. The longest undefeated streak as far as I know is about 3 years. Rico did that and stayed undefeated for another decade on top of that, such a thing has never happened in the history of the sport, especially not at Super heavyweight, a class boxers don't even have at all.
You then write "Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.
Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?"
I don't know what Tommy Morrison has to do with anything, essentially the whole text doesn't make any sense at all, it looks like a drunk men talking.
As far as I know, there has never, in the entire history of the sport of boxing, a heavyweight boxer who made it to the second round in a kickboxing match against any kickboxer and I would love to be proven wrong about that. Not just against Rico, but against any decent active kickboxer at all. What on earth makes you think a blown up cruiserweight would be able to do that against the undisputed super heavyweight world champion?

Kickboxers joining boxing on the other hand, very often become world champions, those are actual facts. Usyk is just another example of that, he has kickboxed as well.

You then write "Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told.."
First of all, that's not true, Rico has received higher offers, he just wants legacy and sees an opportunity to win a world title.
You can cry all day every day pretty much exactly like you're doing right now and for quite a while now, but the fact remains that Rico has been very patient and already said ages ago that he planned to stop defending his kickboxing super heavyweight world title after he did that for 10 years. His choice is a very logical choice. He might fight Kabayel or whatever afterwards. That's assuming Kabayel even wants that at all, Kabayel knows Rico and most likely wants none of him. He probably rather go's for more easy opponents like Dubois, AJ, name them.

[gilgamesh]

There isn’t a single credible source that wouldn’t agree Rico is one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.
Calling him just “a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest)” is a huge understatement.

I assume you mean Usyk with “cheaty belly”?
Which pretty much confirms you’re just a hater. Makes sense now..

Why didn’t Usyk try a kickboxing match? Why should he?
He has zero reason to move to kickboxing.
Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told..

Oh, so you are the official speaker of "credible sources"? This approach is so typical, combined with another cliche - "hater". Why would I be a hater by stating facts? Did I say Usyk is a *hitty boxer? Am I obliged to like/love somebody? In that sense, you don't sound very positive towards me, without even knowing me.

Keep trying to reason how this is not the poorest defence move in boxing's history if that calms you. I have a bad surprise for you - some people agree, and you can't do anything to change it.

You don't have any sources, because if you would have had, you wouldn't be able to write such nonsense.
You're not stating facts, you stated "First, this is by far the worst and most disgraceful titles defense", that's obviously completely wrong, Rico is simply by far the best competition out there by far at this very moment.
Then you state "because although a very good kickboxer (and definitely not among the greatest), he is not a boxer and a lot better ones are bypassed by Usyk", well first of all Rico is by fer the best super heavyweight kickboxer in the history of the sport. The longest undefeated streak as far as I know is about 3 years. Rico did that and stayed undefeated for another decade on top of that, such a thing has never happened in the history of the sport, especially not at Super heavyweight, a class boxers don't even have at all.
You then write "Second, Tommy Morrison was not praised as highly as the tricky cheaty belly.
Why didn't Usyk try a kickboxing match instead? Or agree on one boxing, and one kickboxing?"
I don't know what Tommy Morrison has to do with anything, essentially the whole text doesn't make any sense at all, it looks like a drunk men talking.
As far as I know, there has never, in the entire history of the sport of boxing, a heavyweight boxer who made it to the second round in a kickboxing match against any kickboxer and I would love to be proven wrong about that. Not just against Rico, but against any decent active kickboxer at all. What on earth makes you think a blown up cruiserweight would be able to do that against the undisputed super heavyweight world champion?

Kickboxers joining boxing on the other hand, very often become world champions, those are actual facts. Usyk is just another example of that, he has kickboxed as well.

You then write "Rico and the MMA guys are the ones who want the payday. If you want the payday, do what you're fking told.."
First of all, that's not true, Rico has received higher offers, he just wants legacy and sees an opportunity to win a world title.
You can cry all day every day pretty much exactly like you're doing right now and for quite a while now, but the fact remains that Rico has been very patient and already said ages ago that he planned to stop defending his kickboxing super heavyweight world title after he did that for 10 years. His choice is a very logical choice. He might fight Kabayel or whatever afterwards. That's assuming Kabayel even wants that at all, Kabayel knows Rico and most likely wants none of him. He probably rather go's for more easy opponents like Dubois, AJ, name them.

There is absolutely no way possible that it's true that Rico has received higher offers than what he's going to make for this fight.

He's probably never been offered half of what he's making here.