Oleksandr Usyk will face kickboxer Rico Verhoeven for the WBC heavyweight title in Egypt in May.
Usyk, a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, will box Verhoeven in Giza on May 23.
By defeating Tyson Fury in 2024, Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in boxing’s four-belt era and the sport’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
He went on to beat Fury in a rematch and then knocked out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last year, reunifying the IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.
The Ukrainian has not boxed since relinquishing his WBO title with a win over Dubois in July.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Back in 2018, Oleksandr Usyk showed his class in the cruiserweight division by patiently dismantling Tony Bellew and scoring a brutal finish.
“I have a lot of respect for people who have reached the pinnacle in their sport, and Rico is one of them, a strong athlete and a great champion. Being a champion is more than just winning a belt. It takes years of hard work, discipline and belief,” Usyk said.
“I respect his journey. He is truly the ‘King of Kickboxing.’ But this is boxing. It’s a different game with its own rules and its own king. I’m ready and really looking forward to seeing him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us and I know the fans are excited too. It’s going to be a great night.”
Verhoeven is widely regarded as the best heavyweight kickboxer in the world and dominated the sport until vacating the title following an impressive championship reign with Glory Promotions dating back to 2013.
The 36-year-old has a background in boxing, training with coach Peter Fury and having sparred with Tyson Fury in the past. He has had one professional boxing match, in 2014, when he defeated Janos Finfera, who was undefeated with 0 wins and 5 losses, by knockout.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Tyson Fury, who lost his first two fights, believes heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will ‘beg’ for a trilogy fight before the end of this year
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and achieved everything I set out to achieve,” Verhoeven said.
“But even after staying at the top for so long, my hunger didn’t go away, it just got stronger. I wasn’t looking for comfort, so I started looking for the best challenge that a different world could offer.
“Usyk is the undisputed figure in the boxing world. That’s the challenge that motivates me. Undisputed vs. undisputed. The best against the best.”
There is precedent for such crossover battles. For example, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both boxed against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, although the fight was not for the world championship.
However, the WBC granted Usyk permission to make a voluntary defense before facing a mandatory challenger in interim WBC titleholder Ajit Kabayer.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Fabio Wardley revealed on his Toe2Toe podcast why he thought Oleksandr Usyk would vacate his WBO world title rather than face him as a mandatory challenger.
A real challenge?
Britain’s Fabio Wardley was Usyk’s mandatory challenger for the interim WBO belt. When Usyk vacated the WBO title, Wardley was promoted and became the outright WBO world champion.
Wardley previously told Sky Sports: “It’s very disappointing. As evidenced in this match and others, I want to challenge the best players. I want to be with the best players in the world.”
Of Verhoeven, he said: “I don’t think this is a real challenge and I don’t think he’s worthy of that challenge.
“But I understand or accept that Usyk is at a certain point in his career. In that sense, he’s earned a point where he can do what he wants for a little while. In that sense, he’s earned a position where he can fight comfortably.”
