The bout between Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk and French kickboxer Rico Verhoeven will take place May 23 in Giza (Egypt), organizers report.
The fight was sanctioned by the WBC. The WBA and IBF will also count it as a title defense for Usyk.
The winner of the bout will receive a special championship belt produced by the WBC. Separately at stake is the "King of the Nile" belt.
Both boxers have already arrived in Egypt and held a face-off against the backdrop of the pyramids. Organizers call the event one of the largest boxing nights of the year due to the unique location.
Note that Verhoeven is among the most decorated kickboxers in the world. For over 11 years, he was the Glory heavyweight champion. He debuted in professional boxing in 2014, defeating Hungarian Janos Finfera by knockout in the second round, after which he returned to his kickboxing career.
The WBA allowed Usyk to conduct a title defense, but the belt will not be on the line for the opponent. At the same time, the IBF approved the fight but warned that Usyk's title could become vacant in the event of the Ukrainian's defeat.
Where to watch the fight
Global broadcast of the fight will be provided by DAZN, which operates on a pay-per-view system – a separate subscription is required, and access to the bout, as well as the press conference and weigh-in, must be paid for.
The cost of viewing via DAZN will be 913 UAH.
In Ukraine, the fight will be shown by Kyivstar TV – the broadcast will be available to subscribers of the "Premium HD" plan (200 UAH per month). A separate channel will be created for the bout, and viewing is possible on smartphones, Smart TVs, and in computer browsers.
What are the predictions for this fight
Former world champion Tony Bellew commented on the bout, stating that the Dutchman should not be underestimated. He believes that he might initially surprise Usyk with his unpredictability.
At the same time, Usyk's former opponent is convinced that there will be no underestimation from the Ukrainian and predicted his early victory.
The director of the Ukrainian's team, Serhiy Lapin, stated that Verhoeven is a physically strong and experienced fighter.
The opponent is expected to start the fight aggressively and try to use his physical advantage. At the same time, the Ukrainian boxer's team notes that throughout his career he has already faced more difficult challenges and will be fully prepared for the style Rico offers.
As a reminder, Oleksandr Usyk in London in 2021 won a victory over Briton Anthony Joshua and became the world heavyweight champion according to the WBA, WBO, and IBF versions.
