The most spectacular fight venue in boxing history hosts the most ambitious heavyweight champion of his generation. On May 23, 2026, Oleksandr Usyk defends all four heavyweight world titles — WBC, WBA Super World, IBF, and The Ring Magazine belt — against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven in the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza. It is a spectacle first, a sporting contest second, but do not underestimate what Usyk brings to the ring regardless of the opponent.
| Date | Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| Venue | Pyramids of Giza, Egypt |
| Promotion | Queensberry / MTK Global |
| Division | Heavyweight (unlimited) |
| Scheduled Rounds | 12 |
| Titles | WBC, WBA Super World, IBF & The Ring Heavyweight |
| Ringwalk (Main Event) | 9:00 PM UTC / 5:00 PM EST / 10:00 PM BST |
Oleksandr Usyk is, statistically and by near-universal consensus, the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet. The Ukrainian southpaw has gone 24-0 with 15 knockouts — a 63% KO rate that underlines his concussive power despite a lean, 6’3” frame and 78” reach. He has accumulated 206 professional rounds and lost precisely zero of them. Across his career he has collected every major cruiserweight belt and then returned to do the same at heavyweight, unifying against Anthony Joshua twice and then beating Tyson Fury to become undisputed champion.
At 38, Usyk defies the logic of heavyweight ageing. His footwork, punch selection, and ring intelligence are operating at career-best levels. The Boxing Data numbers back this up: his output-to-accuracy ratio is elite, and opponents typically land fewer than 30% of their own shots against him. He is the shortest route to getting the most out of this event — both for the crowd at the Pyramids and for the viewer at home.
| Usyk | |
|---|---|
| Record | 24-0 (15 KOs) |
| KO Rate | 63% |
| Age | 38 |
| Height | 6’3” (190 cm) |
| Reach | 78” (198 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Rounds Fought | 206 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Tyson Fury | UD | 12 |
| W | Tyson Fury | Split Dec | 12 |
| W | Daniel Dubois | TKO | 9 |
| W | Anthony Joshua | UD | 12 |
| W | Anthony Joshua | UD | 12 |
Rico Verhoeven is one of the most decorated combat sports athletes alive. The Dutch giant has been GLORY Heavyweight World Kickboxing Champion for over a decade, accumulated more than 60 professional kickboxing victories, and is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight kickboxer of all time. His transition to professional boxing produced one win — a KO inside the distance — but the sample size of one professional bout tells us almost nothing about what he can do under the Queensberry ruleset at elite level.
At 6’5” and with a rangy, physical style, Verhoeven brings genuine punching power, experience of performing on enormous stages, and the kind of name recognition that sells an event at the Pyramids. What he has not done is absorb 12 rounds of pressure from an elite technical boxer like Usyk, manage a southpaw’s angles across three-minute rounds without kicks, or deal with world-class jabs that land from ranges his kickboxing guard was not designed to handle.
| Verhoeven | |
|---|---|
| Record | 1-0 (1 KO) |
| KO Rate | 100% |
| Age | 36 |
| Height | 6’5” (196 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Sport Background | Kickboxing (60+ wins) |
| Usyk | Verhoeven | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 24-0 | 1-0 |
| KOs | 15 (63%) | 1 (100%) |
| Age | 38 | 36 |
| Height | 6’3” | 6’5” |
| Reach | 78” | 80” |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Pro Rounds | 206 | 3 |
The reach and height edge goes to Verhoeven, but Usyk’s 206 professional rounds against elite competition versus Verhoeven’s 3 professional boxing rounds is the starkest number in the table.
Usyk will enter as an almost overwhelming technical favourite. His southpaw stance creates natural angles against orthodox fighters — the right jab finds Verhoeven’s open side, and the left hand carries genuine stopping power. Over 12 rounds, Usyk’s pressure, movement, and punch accuracy will make it extremely difficult for Verhoeven to establish any rhythm.
Verhoeven’s best path is physicality in the clinch, landing straight punches before Usyk can work angles, and surviving long enough for fatigue or a lucky shot to shift the dynamic. It is a narrow path, but his knockout power means it cannot be entirely dismissed — one fight, one KO, and the crowd at the Pyramids will be very loud.
The key tactical question is rounds. Can Verhoeven take clean Usyk shots on the chin across 12 rounds and keep his legs? His kickboxing conditioning is exceptional, but boxing uses different muscle groups and different defensive mechanics. The longer the fight goes, the more Usyk’s technical edge compounds.
Usyk:
Verhoeven:
Usyk is an odds-on certainty for most betting markets, and rightly so. The gap in professional boxing rounds alone — 206 vs 3 — is extraordinary. Verhoeven is a warrior and a legend in his own discipline, but the transition from elite kickboxing to elite boxing is a brutal step, as fighters with far more boxing experience than him have discovered.
Prediction: Usyk TKO, rounds 7–10. He will box beautifully for the first half, accumulating rounds comfortably, and then step on the gas when Verhoeven’s unfamiliarity with sustained boxing pressure begins to show. Expect a dominant performance that still gives the crowd enough moments to savour.
| Country | Broadcaster | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Sky Sports Box Office | 10:00 PM BST |
| 🇺🇸 United States | ESPN+ PPV | 5:00 PM EST |
| 🌍 International | Various streaming | 9:00 PM UTC |
Whatever the outcome, Usyk vs Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza is a landmark event. The images alone will define boxing in 2026. The same card features an incredible undercard that you won’t want to miss — Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov is a genuine undisputed welterweight unification, Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic puts two unbeaten super middleweights head-to-head for the vacant WBO title, Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr is an IBF heavyweight eliminator with serious Usyk implications, and Mizuki Hiruta vs Mai Soliman headlines the women’s action at super flyweight.
When is Usyk vs Verhoeven? Saturday, May 23, 2026. The main event ringwalk is expected at approximately 9:00 PM UTC (10:00 PM BST / 5:00 PM EST).
Where is Usyk vs Verhoeven taking place? At the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt — one of the most iconic outdoor venues ever used for a world championship boxing event.
How can I watch Usyk vs Verhoeven in the UK? The fight is available on Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom.
How can I watch Usyk vs Verhoeven in the US? The fight is available on ESPN+ PPV in the United States.
What titles are on the line? Usyk defends the WBC, WBA Super World, IBF, and The Ring Magazine Heavyweight World titles — all four major belts.
What are the odds for Usyk vs Verhoeven? Usyk is a heavy favourite. Verhoeven’s odds reflect his extraordinary profile as a combat sports crossover rather than his professional boxing credentials.
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