Usyk vs. Verhoeven: Heavyweight King Meets a Kickboxing Legend

Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in one of the most unusual crossover boxing events of the year. Billed as “Glory in Giza,” the fight takes place at the Giza Necropolis in Egypt, with the Pyramids of Giza serving as the backdrop for a rare global spectacle.

Main Event

Usyk enters the bout as the clear favorite, and for good reason. He is unbeaten at 24-0 with 15 knockouts and has already established himself as one of the best heavyweights of his era.

Verhoeven, however, brings a very different kind of pedigree. Widely known as the “King of Kickboxing,” he spent 11 years as GLORY champion and arrives with elite combat-sports experience, even if his professional boxing résumé is limited to a single fight more than a decade ago.

That contrast makes the matchup fascinating. Usyk is the proven elite boxer, while Verhoeven is the decorated striker trying to translate kickboxing success into a boxing upset.

What Is At Stake

The WBC heavyweight title is officially on the line in a voluntary defense. Usyk also holds the unified WBA and IBF titles, though those belts are not recognized as being at stake for Verhoeven because he is unranked in professional boxing.

That creates an unusual title situation. If Usyk loses, the WBA and IBF titles are expected to be vacated, which raises the stakes well beyond a standard defence.

Undercard

The undercard is strong enough to stand on its own, with multiple title fights and heavyweight implications. Hamzah Sheeraz meets Alem Begic for the WBO super-middleweight title, while Jack Catterall faces Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA “Regular” welterweight title.

Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. serves as an IBF heavyweight title eliminator, and Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman will contest the WBO women’s junior bantamweight title. That lineup gives the event a proper championship feel beyond the main attraction.

Why It Matters

This fight is built on curiosity as much as competition. Usyk is defending his standing as the undisputed-level boxer everyone wants to test, while Verhoeven is stepping into a completely different code with a reputation forged in kickboxing.

If Usyk wins, it will likely reinforce the idea that elite boxing fundamentals still dominate crossover bouts. If Verhoeven somehow pulls off the upset, it would become one of the most surprising results in modern heavyweight boxing.