“Glory in Giza” on May 23, 2026: Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing world champion Rico Verhoeven in front of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt
Three-time Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk will step into the ring on May 23, 2026 in front of one of the most spectacular backdrops in sports history. The exceptional Ukrainian boxer will defend his WBC heavyweight title against former world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven – right in front of the legendary pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event is aptly named “Glory in Giza” and promises a unique crossover duel between boxing and kickboxing elites.
Undisputed vs. Undisputed – Elite meets Elite
Usyk (24-0, 15 knockouts) currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight belts. The technically brilliant southpaw secured his place in the history books with dominant performances against Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and most recently Daniel Dubois, whom he spectacularly knocked out in 2025. With his footwork, ring IQ and tactical discipline, Usyk is considered the benchmark of the premier class.
On the opposite side is Verhoeven (1-0, 1 knockout), who is considered one of the most dominant heavyweights in kickboxing history. The Dutchman was unbeaten for twelve years and set numerous title defense records at GLORY. He ended his kickboxing career in 2025 and has since devoted himself fully to professional boxing.
In fact, this is not his debut on the ropes: Back in April 2014, Verhoeven fought his first professional fight and stopped Hungary’s Janos Finfera by knockout in the second round. Now comes the biggest test of his career so far – a world championship fight against pound-for-pound star Usyk.
Respect between the champions
Usyk was respectful but focused in the run-up to the event: “I have great respect for people who make it to the top in their sport. Rico is one of them – a powerful athlete and a great champion. Being a champion means more than just having belts.”
Verhoeven also made it clear that it is precisely these kinds of challenges that drive him: “I was the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing world champion for twelve years and achieved everything I set out to do. But being at the top for so long didn’t satisfy my hunger – it intensified it. Usyk is undisputed in boxing. It’s tasks like this that motivate me. Undisputed against Undisputed.”
Style question: technique versus power
In purely boxing terms, Usyk has clear advantages – experience at world-class level, title fights over twelve rounds and elite opponents. Verhoeven, on the other hand, has enormous physicality, punch hardness and years of experience in high-performance combat sports.
The crucial question is: Can the kickboxing king successfully transfer his distance control and striking to pure boxing – or will Usyk’s ring intelligence and combination speed make the difference? One thing is certain: “Glory in Giza” could be one of the most spectacular boxing events of the modern era. A heavyweight world championship fight against a historic backdrop, the likes of which have never been seen before.