Oleksandr Usyk said he is preparing for his fight against Rico Verhoeven in his usual intense manner, without any easing of training. The bout is scheduled for May 2026 in Egypt.
According to Suspilne Sport, the fight between Usyk and Dutch kickboxer Verhoeven has been sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The bout will be a voluntary title defense and is set to take place on May 23 near the Giza pyramids.
In his comments, Usyk stressed that he does not change his training approach, even though his opponent is not a professional boxer.
“My preparation does not change. I prepare for every opponent just as seriously. I train against myself — I am my toughest opponent,” Usyk said.
He added that training continues at full intensity and is even becoming more demanding, without reducing workloads.
At the same time, due to the unstable security situation in the Middle East, Usyk’s team is considering alternative scenarios for the fight. The boxer noted that he fully trusts these matters to his management and remains focused on training.
“The team is 100% considering a plan B, but I don’t think about it at all. I just know I need to train,” Usyk said.
This will be Usyk’s first fight since July 2025, when he defeated Daniel Dubois to become undisputed world champion for the second time.