- Three world title fights added to the Usyk vs Verhoeven undercard at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, turning a novelty main event into a genuine night of boxing
- Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for a WBO title in his first fight since moving up — a proper chance to announce himself at a new weight
- Jack Catterall also gets a world title opportunity on the seven-bout card, giving the British fans something to really sink their teeth into
The Giza Card Just Got Serious
Right then, let's not beat around the bush. When Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven got announced for the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, a lot of people — myself included — saw it as a spectacle fight. A kickboxer stepping into proper boxing for a WBC heavyweight title shot is, to put it politely, a difficult sell for the hardcore fan. Brilliant location, sure, but a main event that raises eyebrows.
Well, the promoters have heard the grumbling and they've done something about it. Three world title fights have been stacked onto the support bill for what is now a seven-bout card, and make no mistake, this changes everything. Suddenly that long flight to Egypt looks a lot more tempting.
Sheeraz vs Begic — A Proper Test
The headline addition is Hamzah Sheeraz against Alem Begic. This one has my full attention. Sheeraz is one of the most intriguing British fighters out there right now — tall, rangy, blessed with proper power in that long right hand. We've watched him grow from a promising middleweight prospect into a serious world-level operator, and after moving up in weight he's looking for something to really announce himself with.
Begic is no gimme either. He's a WBO-ranked contender with genuine tools and he's hungry. This is the kind of step-up fight that either makes Sheeraz's career or sets him right back. If you know, you know — world title nights on foreign soil are where legacies get written, and Sheeraz walks into this one with everything to gain.
Catterall Gets His Shot
Jack Catterall is also on the card for a world title fight, and about time too. The Chorley man has been one of the most avoided fighters in the sport, and the way he was robbed against Josh Taylor back in the day still grates on anyone with eyes. Now he's getting another crack at a belt in front of a global audience. Class.
Catterall is a proper boxer — southpaw, clever, tough as old boots. He's been levels above most of the names thrown his way for years. A world title on his record would be the smallest amount of justice the sport owes him. If he takes this chance and gets the belt he deserves, the whole of British boxing will be cheering.
Why This Fixes the Card
Let's be honest about it. The main event — Usyk vs Verhoeven — still has its critics and the WBC sanctioning decision is going to be debated for years. But the craic of this show was never going to rest purely on a kickboxer getting a heavyweight title shot. By stacking the undercard with legitimate world title fights featuring fighters the British public genuinely care about, the promoters have made this a proper night of boxing.
Three world titles on the line underneath a heavyweight main event in one of the most iconic locations on earth? That's a TV product I can get behind. It gives the hardcore something to talk about before the main event and it gives the casuals something to remember.
My Take
Right, predictions. Sheeraz to stop Begic inside eight rounds — his reach and timing will be too much once he finds his range in the middle rounds. Catterall to win his belt by clear decision, showing the boxing brain that's carried him through every fight of his career. And the main event? I'll save that one for another piece, but Usyk doesn't lose to kickboxers, I promise you that.
The Pyramids of Giza on May 23 now looks like a proper night for boxing, not just a curiosity. That's how you fix a card. Well done to whoever made the phone calls.