Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title against former GLORY kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO)
on Sat. afternoon (May 23, 2026) at Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Their “Glory in Giza” boxing showdown will stream exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV).Watch their final press conference LIVE at 2 p.m. ET in the embedded video above.
“I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out
to accomplish,” the 36 year-old Verhoeven said. “But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger, it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me — undisputed versus undisputed.”
See the rest of the “Glory in Giza” fight card here.
“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport,” the 39 year-old Usyk added. “Rico is one of them. A powerful athlete and a great champion. Being a champion isn’t just about belts.”
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