Usyk to defend WBC title against Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids
Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against rico verhoeven on 23 May at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, a world-title bout promoters have dubbed "Glory in Giza. " The matchup pairs an unbeaten boxing champion with a decorated kickboxer in a spectacle set "under the shadow of ancient giants. "
Usyk, unbeaten across his 24 professional bouts, holds the WBA, WBC and IBF belts and has not fought since stopping Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July. The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion became the first undisputed fighter of boxing's four-belt era when he beat Tyson Fury in 2024, repeated that victory in a rematch, and then knocked out Dubois to reunify the IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.
Organisers have promised an extraordinary backdrop but details of the fight's exact location remain light other than the promise it will be fought "under the shadow of ancient giants. " 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. 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. "
Verhoeven is a 36-year-old Dutch heavyweight who will be boxing for the first time since 2014 when he faces Usyk on 23 May. Before announcing his departure from kickboxing in November, he logged 76 fights and 66 wins in his kickboxing career and spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion. Verhoeven said: "I spent 12 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 the hunger, it strengthened it. I wasn't looking for comfort, so I started looking for 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. "
Rico Verhoeven makes a rare switch to boxing
The kickboxer widely regarded as the best heavyweight in his sport has limited professional boxing experience: he had one professional boxing bout, a 2014 knockout victory over Janos Finfera, who entered with a winless 0-5 record. Verhoeven has trained with coach Peter Fury and has sparred with Tyson Fury; he also dominated the Glory promotion and vacated his crown after a championship reign that dated back to 2013.
Usyk’s recent run and title history
Usyk's path to this defence includes his 2024 win over Tyson Fury that made him undisputed, a successful rematch with Fury, and the knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium that reunited all four major belts. After the Dubois fight he vacated the WBO title, and he has not boxed since that July victory.
How fans and the sport have reacted
The card has drawn immediate scrutiny for the mismatch it appears to present: commentators have called it a mammoth mismatch and compared its spectacle aspect to other crossover events such as Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul. Verhoeven had been loosely linked with a fight against Joshua before the Briton's car crash in December, and fans have also raised other potential names — Usyk vacated his WBO title rather than face Fabio Wardley, and Agit Kabayel's name has been repeatedly mentioned by fans as an alternate opponent.
Context from recent heavyweight upsets
Promoters and pundits point to the example of 2023, when boxing debutant Francis Ngannou dropped and pushed Tyson Fury to the brink, as evidence that surprises can happen; still, observers note Usyk's methodical style makes a repeat of Fury's errors unlikely.
The fight is scheduled for 23 May at the Pyramids of Giza and carries the WBC heavyweight title on the line. Organisers have billed the event "Glory in Giza, " but have provided only limited location details beyond staging the bout "under the shadow of ancient giants. " That date is the next confirmed milestone for both fighters and for the title defence.
