BoxRec

OLEKSANDR USYK-RICO VERHOEVEN WBC TITLE BOUT SET FOR MAY 23 IN EGYPT

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23.
The bout will be held at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and will stream live on DAZN.

Usyk said: "I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport. Rico is one of them - a powerful athlete and a great champion. He's truly the king of Kickboxing. Being a champion isn't just about belts
"I'm ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It's going to be a unique experience for both of us, a big night is coming!"

Verhoeven added: "I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish. But staying at the top for that long didn't take away from the hunger, it strengthened it.

"Usyk is the undisputed in boxing. That's the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best versus the best."

The heavyweight title fight, aptly named "Glory in Giza", will be the first ever to feature in Egypt.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), The Ring, WBC, WBA and IBF titleholder, hasn't fought since a fifth-round knockout win over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London last summer.

Verhoeven is a kickboxing legend who was promotional company GLORY's longest-reigning heavyweight champion. He's competed once as a boxer before, in 2014, and he won by second-round KO. As a kickboxer, his record stands at 66-10, 21 KOs.

Usyk is The Ring's pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world and is a three-time, two-weight undisputed champion.

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Legends collide where legends were built

On May 23rd, under the shadows of the ancient giants, Oleksandr Usyk takes on Rico Verhoeven at the iconic Pyramids of Giza

Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN

Legends collide where legends were built

On May 23, under the shadows of the ancient giants, Oleksandr Usyk takes on Rico Verhoeven at the iconic Pyramids of Giza

Glory in Giza | May 23 | LIVE on DAZN

Brought to you by @ringmagazine

Will probably be DAZN’s May Ultimate Sub

How are the WBC gonna sanction this

Was it on the line for Fury-Ngannou?

Usyk has fought practically everyone at heavyweight, from four fights total with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to another two with Daniel Dubois, Derek Chisora, etc. Yes, Wardley and Kabayel are deserving. But if Usyk wants to have some fun with a big spectacle, so be it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 15:29 Will probably be DAZN’s May Ultimate Sub

They will probably introduce a new Ultimate Sub Emeritus for it and charge another £50

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 15:30

Usyk has fought practically everyone at heavyweight, from four fights total with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to another two with Daniel Dubois, Derek Chisora, etc. Yes, Wardley and Kabayel are deserving. But if Usyk wants to have some fun with a big spectacle, so be it.

Practically everyone heavyweight = 4 ranked opponents plus Chazz Witherspoon

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:21

The Pyramids of Giza is a strange location, but it'll be a unique event in the Combat Sports World for sure. I like this match a lot.

Rico is going to shock a lot of people with how well he performs here. I will not be one of them. I expect Usyk to win a hard fought Unanimous Decision. It'll probably be about even early on.

Did not expect that fight and definitely did not expect that location. Usyk should spend his last prime years to fight Wardley, Kabayel and Itauma and save this type of fight for retirement. I dont know man

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:35 The Pyramids of Giza is a strange location, but it'll be a unique event in the Combat Sports World for sure. I like this match a lot.

Rico is going to shock a lot of people with how well he performs here. I will not be one of them. I expect Usyk to win a hard fought Unanimous Decision. It'll probably be about even early on.

He'll only win a round if Usyk carries him.

Will the Egyptian Professional Boxing Association be covering this?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:51

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:35 The Pyramids of Giza is a strange location, but it'll be a unique event in the Combat Sports World for sure. I like this match a lot.

Rico is going to shock a lot of people with how well he performs here. I will not be one of them. I expect Usyk to win a hard fought Unanimous Decision. It'll probably be about even early on.

He'll only win a round if Usyk carries him.

He'll win 3 or 4 with Usyk doing all he can to keep him from winning those 3 or 4. You underestimate Rico my friend.

I wouldn't be shocked if he knocks Usyk down to be honest. A KO punch isn't completely out of the question. Rico is 6'5 and 265 pounds or so. He's not small, and he's not fat either.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:02

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:51

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:35 The Pyramids of Giza is a strange location, but it'll be a unique event in the Combat Sports World for sure. I like this match a lot.

Rico is going to shock a lot of people with how well he performs here. I will not be one of them. I expect Usyk to win a hard fought Unanimous Decision. It'll probably be about even early on.

He'll only win a round if Usyk carries him.

He'll win 3 or 4 with Usyk doing all he can to keep him from winning those 3 or 4. You underestimate Rico my friend.

I wouldn't be shocked if he knocks Usyk down to be honest. A KO punch isn't completely out of the question. Rico is 6'5 and 265 pounds or so. He's not small, and he's not fat either.

I think you're massively overrating Verhoeven here. Usyk, the man that has never been dropped despite facing top boxers getting dropped by Verhoeven, a non-boxer who isn't a known knockout puncher.

Think what you want. Watch what happens.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:02

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:51

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:35 The Pyramids of Giza is a strange location, but it'll be a unique event in the Combat Sports World for sure. I like this match a lot.

Rico is going to shock a lot of people with how well he performs here. I will not be one of them. I expect Usyk to win a hard fought Unanimous Decision. It'll probably be about even early on.

He'll only win a round if Usyk carries him.

You underestimate Rico my friend.

No, I don't. He's an exceptional kick-boxer. He is not a boxer and he's going straight into a fight with by far the best in the division.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:14

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:02

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 16:51

He'll only win a round if Usyk carries him.

You underestimate Rico my friend.

No, I don't. He's an exceptional kick-boxer. He is not a boxer and he's going straight into a fight with by far the best in the division.

Technically he's an undefeated Boxer. This is going to be his 2nd Pro Boxing match.

He's been reigning as Heavyweight Champion of the Kickboxing World from 2013 to November 2025. He didn't lose his title, he vacated it because he wanted a big money fight, and he couldn't get it in Kickboxing.

This is the biggest money he's ever fought for, the biggest opportunity he's ever got. He'll fight tooth and nail to make it count.

Punching is a big part of his game. It's called KickBOXING. Boxing is at least half of what he does, and he's had 80 Pro fights. He's not an amateur fighter by any means.

Kickboxers tend to be heavy body punchers, and they focus more on power punching rather than jabbing and point scoring because the distance of Kickboxing matches is shorter than Boxing matches. He'll have to adjust to the pace of a Boxing match mainly.

I'm not just speaking generally about him either. I've seen him fight a lot. He punches well, accurately, and has a wide variety of punches in his arsenal.

Is it a 12 rounder or a 10 rounder?

What a bizarre turn of events and another black mark against boxing.
Rico Verhoeven is a novice boxer , whatever his achievements at kickboxing, he's not fought a match beyond 5 rounds , yes he'll be fit but not a big puncher.
What's the point in this matchup?
Can anyone sell it to me as anything other than a mis match of how long will he last.

OLEKSANDR USYK-RICO VERHOEVEN WBC TITLE BOUT SET FOR MAY 23 IN EGYPT

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23.
The bout will be held at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and will stream live on DAZN.

Usyk said: "I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport. Rico is one of them - a powerful athlete and a great champion. He's truly the king of Kickboxing. Being a champion isn't just about belts
"I'm ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It's going to be a unique experience for both of us, a big night is coming!"

Verhoeven added: "I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish. But staying at the top for that long didn't take away from the hunger, it strengthened it.

"Usyk is the undisputed in boxing. That's the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best versus the best."

The heavyweight title fight, aptly named "Glory in Giza", will be the first ever to feature in Egypt.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), The Ring, WBC, WBA and IBF titleholder, hasn't fought since a fifth-round knockout win over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London last summer.

Verhoeven is a kickboxing legend who was promotional company GLORY's longest-reigning heavyweight champion. He's competed once as a boxer before, in 2014, and he won by second-round KO. As a kickboxer, his record stands at 66-10, 21 KOs.

Usyk is The Ring's pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world and is a three-time, two-weight undisputed champion.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:26

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:14

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:02

You underestimate Rico my friend.

No, I don't. He's an exceptional kick-boxer. He is not a boxer and he's going straight into a fight with by far the best in the division.

Technically he's an undefeated Boxer. This is going to be his 2nd Pro Boxing match.

He's been reigning as Heavyweight Champion of the Kickboxing World from 2013 to November 2025. He didn't lose his title, he vacated it because he wanted a big money fight, and he couldn't get it in Kickboxing.

This is the biggest money he's ever fought for, the biggest opportunity he's ever got. He'll fight tooth and nail to make it count.

Punching is a big part of his game. It's called KickBOXING. Boxing is at least half of what he does, and he's had 80 Pro fights. He's not an amateur fighter by any means.

Kickboxers tend to be heavy body punchers, and they focus more on power punching rather than jabbing and point scoring because the distance of Kickboxing matches is shorter than Boxing matches. He'll have to adjust to the pace of a Boxing match mainly.

I'm not just speaking generally about him either. I've seen him fight a lot. He punches well, accurately, and has a wide variety of punches in his arsenal.

Is it a 12 rounder or a 10 rounder?

I'll ask you a question. Why doesn't a decathlete win the 100m at the Olympics?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:54

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:26

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 17:14

No, I don't. He's an exceptional kick-boxer. He is not a boxer and he's going straight into a fight with by far the best in the division.

Technically he's an undefeated Boxer. This is going to be his 2nd Pro Boxing match.

He's been reigning as Heavyweight Champion of the Kickboxing World from 2013 to November 2025. He didn't lose his title, he vacated it because he wanted a big money fight, and he couldn't get it in Kickboxing.

This is the biggest money he's ever fought for, the biggest opportunity he's ever got. He'll fight tooth and nail to make it count.

Punching is a big part of his game. It's called KickBOXING. Boxing is at least half of what he does, and he's had 80 Pro fights. He's not an amateur fighter by any means.

Kickboxers tend to be heavy body punchers, and they focus more on power punching rather than jabbing and point scoring because the distance of Kickboxing matches is shorter than Boxing matches. He'll have to adjust to the pace of a Boxing match mainly.

I'm not just speaking generally about him either. I've seen him fight a lot. He punches well, accurately, and has a wide variety of punches in his arsenal.

Is it a 12 rounder or a 10 rounder?

I'll ask you a question. Why doesn't a decathlete win the 100m at the Olympics?

This isn't the Olympics. The bell rings, and it's 2 men fighting. These are 2 men who are both experienced professional fighters. 2 guys that have made their living fighting at the highest level for a good many a year.

You were saying the same thing about Francis Ngannou weren't you? He didn't have a chance, and Tyson Fury was gonna clown him. I know I was saying that. We were wrong though.

Well Rico Verhoeven would beat the sh*t out of Francis Ngannou.