The Ring announced
on Friday that Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) will be defending his
heavyweight crown on May 23. He will be squaring off with
kickboxing all-time great Rico
Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO Box; 66-10, 21 KOs KB) at the Pyramids of
Giza in Egypt. The event titled “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons”
will put up for grabs Usyk’s WBC belt, despite the heavyweight
serving as the unified champion across all major sanctioning
bodies. The boxing showcase will air on Dazn.
Unbeaten after 24 walks to the ring as a pro, Usyk appeared just
once in 2025, where he mollywhopped Daniel Dubois in the fifth
round to hold onto his titles while securing the IBF’s as well.
Several of his recent outings the last few years have taken place
in Saudi Arabia, where he squared off with names like Anthony
Joshua and Tyson Fury.
In his last six bouts, he has beaten those three aforementioned
boxers twice each.
In a statement provided to
ESPN, Usyk gushed about his upcoming opponent while flexing his
own credentials.
“I truly respect people who reach the very top of the sport,” Usyk
wrote. “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.”
Horse of a Different Color
As a pro boxer, Verhoeven has competed just once, knocking out
Janos
Finfera in the second round in 2014. The longtime Glory
kickboxing champion won and defended his heavyweight throne more
than any other athlete, racking up 13 defenses and multiple
tournament titles as well. From 2012 to 2025, the 6-foot-5 striker
from the Netherlands amassed a tremendous record with the promotion
of 28-1, with his lone defeat against legendary skyscraper Semmy
Schilt.
The “King of Kickboxing” also put out a statement about the match,
as he will be crossing back over to the sweet science after a
hall-of-fame-worthy career that allowed him to kick.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion
and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish. But staying at
the top 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 vs.
undisputed. The best facing the best,” the 36-year-old penned.
Legends collide where legends were built
🥊🦂On May 23rd, under the shadows of the ancient giants, Oleksandr
Usyk takes on Rico Verhoeven at the iconic Pyramids of Giza 🔥Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/mHnLT625Du
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine)
February 27, 2026