Usyk Defends at the Pyramids — Kickboxing King Verhoeven Gets His Shot

• Oleksandr Usyk defends WBC heavyweight title vs Rico Verhoeven, May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt—Live on DAZN
• Verhoeven is a kickboxing legend (66-10 record, 13 GLORY heavyweight title defences) but has just ONE professional boxing fight
• IBF and WBA belts could be stripped if Usyk proceeds—undisputed status at risk. WBC granted it as a voluntary defence
• Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) cleared out the heavyweight division; hasn't fought since July 2025 and needed to stay active

The Maddest Matchup in Boxing History

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Live on DAZN. This is one of the maddest matchups in boxing history—and that's saying something. Verhoeven is a kickboxing LEGEND. 66-10 record, longest heavyweight title reign in GLORY history with 13 defences. The man is an absolute specimen in the eight-ounce gloves. But here's the thing: in BOXING, Verhoeven has ONE professional fight. A KO win over a winless opponent (Janos Finfera) back in 2014. That's it. One fight. Over a decade ago.

Usyk's Dominance

Usyk is 24-0 (15 KOs). His last six fights have been victories over Joshua (twice), Fury (twice), and Dubois (twice). He's cleared out the heavyweight division. The man has beaten everyone worth beating at heavyweight. He's the undisputed champion, and he's been the most dominant heavyweight of this generation. Usyk hasn't fought since July 2025 and needed to stay active. Rather than face a lower-ranked heavyweight challenger in a routine defence, he's gone for the crossover intrigue. The spectacle. The story.

The Belt Situation Gets Complicated

Here's where it gets messy. The WBC granted this as a voluntary defence. That's clear. But the IBF and WBA could strip Usyk if he defends only the WBC belt against a non-ranked opponent. His undisputed status might be at risk. Think about that. Usyk could walk away from this fight without his IBF and WBA belts. They're not on the line, but they could be gone anyway. That's the gamble he's taking. The venue is spectacular—fighting in front of the Pyramids of Giza. Boxing at the pyramids. Mental.

What Happens in the Ring?

Usyk wins this comfortably. Verhoeven is tough as nails, an absolute warrior in kickboxing, but one pro boxing fight doesn't prepare you for the best heavyweight on the planet. The real question is what it costs Usyk in terms of his other belts. Verhoeven will bring intensity and toughness. He's spent his entire career at elite level combat sport. But Usyk's footwork, his ring generalship, his technique—it's a level above. The kickboxing skills don't translate cleanly enough to overcome that gap. The real story here isn't whether Usyk wins. It's what his IBF and WBA belts look like when he's done.