Boxing Meets Kickboxing: Usyk Faces Verhoeven at the Pyramids

A heavyweight showdown is on the horizon, with Oleksandr Usyk set to defend his WBC crown against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23. The fight will take place in a dramatic setting: the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Usyk has been on a winning streak since July 2025, when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to keep his collection of major titles. Over the past four years, he has fought six times and secured victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Dubois. Verhoeven’s boxing experience is limited to a single bout in 2014, where he won by second‑round knockout. His main achievements come from kickboxing, where he has defended the GLORY title against Artem Vakhitov in June 2025. After leaving GLORY, he explored a potential fight with UFC’s Derrick Lewis but chose not to join the organization.

The kickboxing legend boasts an 11‑year unbeaten run, tallying a 22‑fight win streak with significant wins. He says that his long reign has not dulled his competitive fire. Both fighters have expressed respect for each other’s achievements. Usyk praised Verhoeven as a powerful champion, while Verhoeven noted that facing an undisputed boxing champion is the ultimate test for him. The clash promises to be a rare encounter between two top athletes from different combat sports, each eager to prove their dominance on the world stage.

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