Ukrainian world champion Oleksandr Usyk will take part in one of the most anticipated fights of the year on May 23, facing kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven. The bout will take place near the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
The fight, titled “Glory in Giza,” will headline a major boxing event.
Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title will be on the line.
Rico Verhoeven, 39, is considered one of the greatest kickboxers in history. The Dutch fighter held the GLORY heavyweight title for more than 11 years, but has had only one professional boxing match, back in 2014.
For Usyk, this will be his first appearance since defeating Daniel Dubois and once again confirming his status as one of the world’s top boxers. The Ukrainian remains undefeated in professional boxing with 24 wins in 24 fights.
Ahead of the fight, Usyk recorded the heaviest weight of his career at 105.8 kg, though he was still significantly lighter than Verhoeven, who weighed 117.3 kg.
According to Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, Usyk is expected to earn around $100 million — approximately €86 million — for the fight in Egypt.
For Verhoeven, the bout will also become one of the most lucrative of his career, although the exact amount of his purse has not been disclosed.
The report says Hollywood actor Jason Statham played a role in arranging the fight. According to the newspaper, he became friends with Verhoeven on a movie set and persuaded Saudi organizers to give the Dutchman a chance in professional boxing against Usyk.
Bookmakers see the Ukrainian as the overwhelming favorite. Most international betting companies offer odds of around 1.03–1.06 for a Usyk victory, while Verhoeven’s chances are priced at roughly 8/1 to 14/1.
Where and when to watch:
The boxing event is expected to begin around 8:00 p.m. Kyiv time, with the main event scheduled for late evening.
In Ukraine, the fight will be broadcast on Kyivstar TV as part of its sports packages.
Across Europe, the bout will be streamed on DAZN via PPV.
Organizers describe the event near the Pyramids of Giza as one of the biggest and most atmospheric boxing nights in recent years.
