Usyk to defend WBC title vs. kickboxer at the Pyramids of Giza

Oleksandr Usyk’s return to the ring will be unique as the three-time undisputed champion will defend the WBC heavyweight title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Ring was announced on Friday.

The fight will headline an event titled “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons” and will stream live and exclusively on DAZN.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) is coming Daniel Dubois knocked out in the fifth round in July and he had limited options for his next fight as he has beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois twice each since 2021. Discussion about a possible fight with former WBC champion Deontay WilderBut Usyk chose to go in a different direction.

Usyk, 39, released an announcement on his social media earlier this week and discussed a bout with Glory Kickboxing’s longest-reigning heavyweight champion. Not only will Usyk step into the ring with the man considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time with a record of 66-10, but he’ll also do so in the Pyramids of Giza in North Africa.

“I really respect people who reach the top of their sport,” Usyk said in a statement. “Rico is one of them – a powerful athlete and a great champion. Becoming a champion is not just about the belt. It is about years of hard work, discipline and belief. I respect his journey; he is truly the king of kickboxing. But this is boxing – a different sport, with its own rules and its own kings.

“I’m ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It will be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too.”

Fighting out of the Netherlands, Verhoeven held the Glory Heavyweight title for 4,220 days, with 13 successful title defenses from 2013 to 2025. The Dutch kickboxer has tried his hand at boxing once and defeated Janos Finfera by knockout in 2014. Verhoeven, 36, also has one MMA fight, a TKO win over Victor Bogutzky in 2015.

Verhoeven said, “I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish.” “But being at the top did not take away the hunger, but only strengthened it. I was not looking for comfort, so started looking for the biggest challenge available in the other world.

“Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that inspires me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.”