Next weekend, Oleksandr Usyk faces a unique challenge as he takes on kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven at the pyramids of Giza. The fight will be contested under pure boxing rules, with Usyk defending his WBC heavyweight title against the Dutchman, who has only one professional boxing bout but has long trained under Tyson Fury's uncle Peter.
Usyk, 39, remains undefeated and is a heavy favourite. The bout is seen as a side quest before his next expected WBC mandatory title defence. However, the unified champion cannot afford complacency against Verhoeven, 37, one of the greatest strikers in combat sports history.
When is the fight?
Usyk vs Verhoeven takes place on Saturday, 23 May at the pyramids of Giza, Egypt. The main card begins at 6pm BST (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET), with main-event ring walks around 10pm BST (2pm PT, 4pm CT, 5pm ET).
How to watch
The event streams live exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view worldwide. The fight card costs £24.99 / $59.99; no DAZN subscription is required to purchase. Subscriptions start at £15.99 per month for upcoming action.
Odds
- Usyk: 1/25
- Verhoeven: 9/1
- Draw: 25/1
Odds via Betway. The Independent vets betting sites for usability, security, and responsible gambling. You can claim free bets here.
Fight card
Subject to change. (C) denotes champion.
- Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Rico Verhoeven (WBC heavyweight title)
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic (vacant WBO super-middleweight title)
- Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov (welterweight)
- Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr (heavyweight)
- Mizuki Hiruta (C) vs Mai Soliman (women's WBO super-flyweight title)
- Basem Mamdough vs Jamar Talley (cruiserweight)
- Mahmoud Mobark vs Michael Kalyalya (middleweight)
- Omar Hikal vs Ali Sserunkuma (TBC)
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