Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven came face to face Tuesday at the official launch press conference for “Glory in Giza,” their WBC heavyweight title fight set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine, will stream exclusively on DAZN.
Verhoeven’s team originated the crossover concept, pitching “undisputed vs. undisputed” to promoters. A fight with Anthony Joshua was initially lined up but fell through following a tragic accident. The Usyk matchup materialized shortly after. Actor Jason Statham is credited as one of the early backers of the crossover idea, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh ultimately greenlighting the event.
Usyk: Three Fights Left
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) said he chose this fight because he wanted to do something for himself for once, rather than what was expected of him. He confirmed he has three fights remaining in boxing: Verhoeven, then the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, then a third fight with Tyson Fury.
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When asked about Fury potentially fighting Anthony Joshua instead, Usyk said he would “stay back and watch as a fan.” He picked Joshua as the “future undisputed champion” in that hypothetical. On Verhoeven’s knockout prediction, Usyk dismissed it flatly: “A bad prediction. We’ll see.” His promise for May 23: “Wonderful. Wonderful winner.”
Coach Yakob Chitsky said the team does not focus heavily on the opponent anymore. Usyk is at a level where the real challenge is maintaining an effective training process. His motivation now comes from training itself.
Rico: Upset the World
Verhoeven, the longtime GLORY kickboxing heavyweight champion, acknowledged he is a massive underdog but framed the fight as a chance to “upset the world and write history.” He argued he brings a different puzzle for Usyk: kickboxing angles Usyk has never encountered, combined with a significant size and weight advantage (roughly 125 kg, about 20 kg heavier than the champion).
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His predicted path to victory? A unanimous points decision. He called it ambitious but worth aiming for. He also stated that if he lands his best clean punch, Usyk goes down due to the weight difference.
Manager Kareem Aria said Verhoeven’s focus level is no different from any other fight. He has always been this driven, but acknowledged Rico must be “200% of himself” against the best heavyweight in the world.
Coach Peter Fury, who has worked with Verhoeven for about 15 years on boxing, confirmed Rico turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to take this fight. He is not coming for a paycheck. Fury called Usyk the best heavyweight in the world while insisting “anything can happen when that bell goes.”
The Face-Off
Former opponents Tony Bellew and Malik Scott provided analysis during the face-off. Both predicted Usyk “won’t move,” and neither fighter broke first. They were turned away simultaneously.
Bellew said the only viable strategy for Verhoeven is to “show no respect, throw the kitchen sink, get in early and don’t stop” with sustained pressure for the first three to four rounds. After Usyk adjusts, it’s over. Scott flagged Verhoeven’s wrestling and clinch game as a potential X-factor, noting Usyk does wrestling three times a week but has never truly been tested there.
Both agreed Verhoeven’s engine and conditioning are the biggest unknowns. He has never been tested at this level of duration and intensity in a boxing ring. On the “Buster Douglas” comparison, Bellew said an upset would be equally shocking but placed Verhoeven at roughly 10-15/1 odds, not 49/1 like Tyson was against Douglas.
Undercard
The May 23 card features multiple title fights. Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. serves as an IBF heavyweight eliminator with Usyk’s mandatory challenger on the line. Jack Catterall meets Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA regular welterweight belt.
Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine present Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: Glory in Giza, WBC heavyweight title fight, on May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event streams exclusively on DAZN.
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