Bold headline: Usyk bets big by defending the WBC heavyweight title against one of kickboxing’s all-time greats on a historic stage. And this is where it gets controversial: can boxing’s kingpin truly stand up to a striker who ruled the kickboxing world for over a decade?
Oleksandr Usyk, a three-time undisputed champion, will defend his WBC crown against Rico Verhoeven, widely regarded as the sport’s premier kickboxer. The bout is set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and will be the centerpiece of an event titled “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons.” The fight will stream exclusively on DAZN.
Usyk comes into the fight with a pristine 24-0 record, including 15 knockouts. His latest outing was a fifth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois in July, a victory that reaffirmed his position atop the heavyweight division. After defeating Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury (each multiple times) since 2021, Usyk explored several options for his next opponent before choosing this high-profile cross-sport showdown.
Verhoeven, hailing from the Netherlands, spent 4,220 days as Glory’s heavyweight champion and defended the title 13 times between 2013 and 2025. He’s boxed sparingly in the past, with a single professional boxing appearance resulting in a knockout victory over Janos Finfera in 2014. At 36, Verhoeven also has one MMA appearance, a 2015 TKO win over Viktor Bogutzki.
In his own words, Verhoeven emphasized that the challenge appeals to his hunger to compete at the highest level beyond kickboxing. “I spent twelve 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 seeking 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.”
Usyk expressed mutual respect for Verhoeven’s career while signaling that boxing remains a different sport with its own rules and glory. “I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport. 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 kings.” He added that the match promises a unique experience for both competitors and their fans.
This cross-discipline headline has sparked plenty of discussion among enthusiasts. Some argue that Verhoeven’s long reign and elite striking credentials could test Usyk’s boxing mastery in unfamiliar territory. Others contend that boxing’s technical demands and rule set favor Usyk, making this more about wrestling with rules and distance than pure power.
As fans weigh the novelty and potential implications—could a boxing ace translate success against a decorated kickboxer, and what would such a result mean for cross-sport matchups—the looming question remains: does the sport’s identity hold up when champions cross over, and who benefits from the cultural and strategic disruption this bout represents?
