Oleksandr Usyk, who has not stepped into the ring since his fifth‑round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley in July, is set to defend his WBC heavyweight crown against a kick‑boxer at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
The contest with Rico Verhoeven on 23 May, billed as “Glory in Giza”, will mark the first championship bout staged in Egypt, CuriosityNews reports, and will be broadcast live.
Verhoeven, a 36‑year‑old Dutch heavyweight, holds a 66‑10 record with 21 knockouts in kick‑boxing, has previously sparred with Tyson Fury and fought once as a professional in 2014, winning by knockout.
“I have great respect for athletes who reach the pinnacle of their discipline,” Usyk said. “Rico belongs to that group – a powerful competitor and a true champion. He is the king of kick‑boxing. Holding a belt is only part of being a champion. I am prepared and eager to meet him in the ring. It will be a singular experience for both of us, and a major night lies ahead.”
The twice‑undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk, who possesses the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, has recorded six victories in four years, including two wins each over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. He relinquished his WBO title in November rather than face Fabio Wardley, the 31‑year‑old British heavyweight.
“I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kick‑boxing champion and achieved every goal I set,” Verhoeven added. “Remaining at the summit for that long only heightened my hunger. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That is the sort of test that drives me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best against the best.”
Wardley, who will defend the WBO belt against Dubois on 9 May in Manchester, expressed disappointment at the development. “I don’t see this as a genuine challenge or a worthy opponent,” he told Sky Sports. “But I understand that Usyk is at a stage in his career where he can choose his fights. He has earned the right to take a less demanding bout.”
Read next
Raducanu's Journey from Rome to French Open Fitness Challenge Raises Future Questions
Emma Raducanu was among the first to pass through the imposing gates of the Foro Italico this year. She arrived in Rome ahead of schedule, keen to assess her fitness and readiness for elite competition during a series of practice sessions on the tournament’s heavy red‑clay courts. As
Winter Paralympics athletes furious over schedule as massive thaw disrupts events
In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the thaw has arrived. Daytime temperatures are climbing into the double‑digit Celsius range, causing snow to melt from the slopes and the “torrenti” of runoff to begin flowing again.
Usually a period when snowfall can be at its peak, the region has seen none since
France to don pale blue kit in England clash amid looming kit dispute
England’s Six Nations showdown in Paris on Saturday might turn into a comedy of errors as France prepare to sport a commemorative pale‑blue jersey that could conflict with the white uniform worn by Steve Borthwick’s team.
Fabian Galthié’s side has announced it will wear the anniversary