Usyk to defend WBC title against kickboxer Verhoeven at Pyramids of Giza

Oleksandr Usyk’s return to the ring will be a unique one 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 announced on Friday.

The fight will headline an event dubbed "Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons" and stream live and exclusively on DAZN.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in July and had limited options for his next fight as he has beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois two times each since 2021. There was discussion surrounding a possible fight with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, but Usyk opted to go in a different direction.

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 discussed. Not only will Usyk step into the ring with a man widely regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers of all time with a record of 66-10, but he will also do it at the Pyramids of Giza in North Africa.

"I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport," Usyk said in a statement. "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 ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to 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 Viktor Bogutzki in 2015.

"I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish," Verhoeven said. "But staying at the top didn’t take away the hunger, it strengthened it. I wasn’t looking for comfort, so started looking of the highest challenge available in another world.

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

Source: ESPN

--Agencies