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

Oleksandr Usyk’s return to the ring will likely be a novel one as the three-time undisputed champion will defend the WBC heavyweight title in opposition to kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23 at The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, The Ring announced on Friday.

The struggle will headline an occasion dubbed “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons” and stream reside and solely on DAZN.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in July and had restricted choices for his subsequent struggle as he has overwhelmed Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois two occasions every since 2021. There was discussion surrounding a possible fight with former WBC champion Deontay Wilderhowever Usyk opted to go in a unique path.

Usyk, 39, had teased an announcement was coming earlier in the week on his social media and a bout with GLORY kickboxing’s longest-reigning heavyweight champion had been mentioned. Not solely will Usyk step into the ring with a person broadly thought to be one of the best kickboxers of all-time with a report of 66-10, however he can even do it at the Pyramids of Giza in North Africa.

“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport,” Usyk mentioned in a press release. “Rico is one of them — a powerful athlete and a great champion. Being a champion isn’t just about belts. It’s about years of hard work, discipline and belief. I respect his journey; he’s truly the King of Kickboxing. But this is boxing — a different game, with its own rules and its own kings.

“I’m prepared and actually wanting ahead to assembly him in the ring. It’s going to be a novel expertise for each of us, and I do know the followers 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 Viktor Bogutzki in 2015.

“I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and completed the whole lot I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven said. “But staying at the prime did not take away the starvation, it strengthened it. I wasn’t on the lookout for consolation, so I began on the lookout for the highest problem out there in one other world.

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