WBC Confirms Usyk Title on Line
The WBC has issued its final decision: Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight championship will be on the line when he faces Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. This voluntary title defense is now officially sanctioned, adding gravity to one of the year's most unusual cross-discipline matchups under the pyramids.
Oleksandr Usyk enters this unprecedented bout with a perfect professional record of 24 wins and no losses, having already become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. His recent run includes two victories each against top contenders Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois, cementing his place as one of the era's most dominant fighters. His opponent, Rico Verhoeven, is a titan in his own domain, widely hailed as the "King of Kickboxing." The Dutchman held the Glory heavyweight kickboxing title for more than 11 consecutive years and amassed a formidable kickboxing record of 66 wins and 10 losses. The experience gap in the boxing ring is stark: this will be just Verhoeven's second professional boxing match. His only other pro boxing bout was a knockout victory that took place over a decade ago, in 2014. The "Glory in Giza" event, scheduled for May 23, 2026, marks the first time a professional boxing event has ever been staged at the iconic pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Initially, the WBC planned to classify the fight as a "special event." However, the sanctioning body later approved it as a voluntary defense of Usyk's world title, citing the champion's unprecedented level of activity against elite competition as a key factor in their decision.
