Usyk to defend heavyweight title vs. kickboxing great Verhoeven
Fight will take place May 23 at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt
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Lineal/unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk had taken to social media in recent days to tease news of plans for his next fight and on Friday they were revealed.
In an unusual pairing, Usyk will defend against Rico Verhoeven, a former longtime kickboxing heavyweight champion and regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers ever, in the main event of a Ring magazine card on May 23 (DAZN PPV) outdoors to the exotic backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt, Turki Alalshikh, owner of The Ring, announced.
In a fight dubbed “Glory in Giza,” Usyk will defend The Ring and WBC titles but no mention of the IBF or WBA belts that he also holds was made in the announcement. The IBF told Fight Freaks Unite there has been no inquiry from Team Usyk about defending the title. The WBA did not return messages seeking clarification. In November, Usyk gave up his undisputed champion status when he vacated the WBO title rather than be forced into an immediate mandatory defense against Fabio Wardley.
Whatever belts are at stake, Usyk said he is excited to face Verhoeven.
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“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport. Rico is one of them — a powerful athlete and a great champion,” Usyk said. “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. A big night is coming.”
Verhoeven (66-10, 21 KOs in kickboxing), 36, of the Netherlands, who vacated the Glory kickboxing heavyweight title in November, holds Glory records for most wins in title bouts (14), most consecutive title defenses (13), most wins (28), and longest winning streak (27) while tying the promotion’s record for most bouts (29). He is also 1-0 in both boxing and MMA.
Verhoeven’s only professional boxing match took place in April 2014 in Germany, where he scored a second-round knockout of Janos Finfera, who dropped to 0-6.
“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,” Verhoeven said. “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.”
In 2024, Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), 39, a southpaw from Ukraine, became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years when he dropped Tyson Fury in the ninth round and won a split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Forced to vacate the IBF belt in order to face Fury in a contractually mandated immediate rematch, Usyk won a more clear-cut unanimous decision later in 2024, also in Riyadh. Verhoeven has worked with Fury and credits him with making his jab an effective weapon.
In July, Usyk traveled to London, the hometown of IBF titlist Daniel Dubois and easily knocked him out in the fifth round to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time. The fight with Verhoeven will be Usyk’s first bout since.
Usyk said in December at the WBC convention that his hope was to defend against former longtime WBC titlist Deontay Wilder, but Wilder opted instead to face Derek Chisora in April so the fight with Verhoeven, who had been a long rumored possible opponent, was made.
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Usyk photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions
Nice that we didn’t have to wait for the WBC to rank this guy so that this dogshit fight could be a “legitimate” title go, as they just sanctioned it to keep Turki happy. Hooray for boxing!
And people said we would get clown fights when the DAZN Ultimate came out.