Boxing : Usyk Faces Kickboxer Verhoeven in Historic Giza Showdown

Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, titled "Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons," streams live on DAZN. Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) aims to build on his fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in July. After dominating Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, Usyk seeks new challenges. Verhoeven, a legendary kickboxer with a record of 66-10, held the Glory heavyweight title for 4,220 days with 13 successful defenses. He briefly ventured into boxing, scoring a knockout win in 2014. At 36, Verhoeven embraces this unique challenge, stating, "Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That's the kind of challenge that motivates me." Both fighters prepare for a historic clash, blending boxing and kickboxing legacies in a monumental setting.