Oleksandr Usyk, the two-time undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, will put his WBC title on the line against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven this May in Egypt.
The fight is set to take place in Giza on May 23. Usyk will be making a voluntary defense of his belt against the Dutch fighter, who is widely considered the best heavyweight kickboxer in the world.
Usyk made history in 2024 when he defeated Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. He was the first fighter in the division to hold all the major belts since Lennox Lewis.
Since then, the Ukrainian boxer has beaten Fury again in a rematch. He also knocked out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last year. That victory brought the IBF, WBC, WBO, and WBA titles back together under one name. Usyk has not fought since that win over Dubois in July. He has since given up the WBO title.
In a statement, Usyk spoke highly of his opponent.
“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport,” Usyk said. “Rico is one of them. He is a powerful athlete and a great champion. Being a champion is not just about belts. It is about years of hard work, discipline, and belief.”
Usyk acknowledged Verhoeven’s success in his own sport but made it clear they are meeting in a boxing ring.
“I respect his journey. He is truly the ‘King of Kickboxing,'” Usyk said. “But this is boxing. It is a different game, with its own rules and its own kings. I am ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It will be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
Verhoeven ruled the sport of kickboxing for over a decade. His championship run with the Glory promotion began in 2013. He only recently gave up that title.
The 36-year-old has some boxing experience. He has trained with coach Peter Fury and has sparred with Tyson Fury in the past.
He has had one professional boxing match. That was a knockout win in 2014 against Janos Finfera, a fighter who had not won a bout in his five previous attempts.
Verhoeven said he was looking for the biggest challenge available in a different sport.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven said. “But staying at the top for that long did not take away the hunger. It strengthened it. I was not looking for comfort, so I started looking for the highest challenge available in another world.”
He added: “Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That is the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.”
Fights that bring boxers together with fighters from other sports have happened before. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have both fought former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. However, neither of those fights was for a world title.
The WBC has given Usyk permission to make this voluntary defense of his title. After this fight, he will have to face his mandatory challenger. That will be Agit Kabayel, who currently holds the WBC Interim title.
