Two champions from different combat-sports worlds are ready to collide in one of the most spectacular settings boxing has ever seen.
Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight world title against former longtime GLORY kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23, at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Billed as “Glory in Giza,” the historic crossover showdown will stream live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view.
Usyk brings an undefeated boxing record, elite movement and victories over the defining heavyweights of his era. Verhoeven brings exceptional size, championship composure and more than a decade of dominance at the highest level of kickboxing. The rules may favor the champion, but the challenger’s striking experience makes this far more than an ordinary title defense.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven: Fight details
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Venue: Giza Necropolis at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
- Main card starts: 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. BST
- Estimated main-event ring walks: Approximately 5:48 p.m. ET / 2:48 p.m. PT / 10:48 p.m. BST
- Championship: Usyk’s WBC heavyweight world title
- Live stream: DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate
- U.S. PPV price: $59.99
Ring-walk times are estimates and can change depending on the duration of the undercard bouts. Viewers should tune in from the beginning of the main card to experience the complete event.
Oleksandr Usyk faces a completely different challenge
Oleksandr Usyk has solved every problem presented to him in professional boxing. The Ukrainian southpaw became undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up and conquering the heavyweight division, using intelligence, movement and conditioning to overcome naturally larger opponents.
Usyk enters “Glory in Giza” with a perfect 24-0 record and 15 knockouts. His heavyweight résumé includes two victories apiece over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. Those wins have established him as one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters of his generation.
The champion’s greatest strengths are his footwork, timing and ability to change rhythm. Usyk rarely gives an opponent the same look for long. He shifts angles, creates openings with feints and increases his work rate as fights progress.
Verhoeven presents a challenge Usyk has never encountered in a boxing ring. The Dutchman is an elite heavyweight striker with a major size advantage and years of experience reading opponents at close range. Usyk must avoid becoming trapped in a physical contest and use his movement to make the larger challenger reset repeatedly.
Rico Verhoeven steps into boxing history
Rico Verhoeven is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. The 6-foot-5 Dutch star held the GLORY heavyweight championship for more than a decade, compiled 13 successful title defenses and built a 22-fight unbeaten run before pursuing this extraordinary opportunity.
Verhoeven arrives with a 66-10 kickboxing record and 21 knockouts. His professional boxing record stands at 1-0 with one knockout, making the scale of this assignment impossible to ignore. In only his second professional boxing match, he will challenge one of the most technically accomplished heavyweight champions in history.
What Verhoeven lacks in conventional boxing experience, he replaces with years of championship-level striking knowledge. He understands distance, pressure, pacing and the demands of competing under the brightest lights. His size, strength and physical conditioning could make him dangerous if he can force Usyk into exchanges.
The major adjustment will be operating without kicks, knees or his familiar kickboxing combinations. Verhoeven must rely entirely on his hands, adapt his defensive habits and avoid following Usyk around the ring. If he can cut off space, work the body and make the contest physical, he could create the conditions for a historic upset.
Why Usyk vs. Verhoeven is a must-watch event
This is not simply a boxing champion facing another heavyweight contender. It is an elite-versus-elite experiment involving two fighters who reached the summit of different combat sports.
Usyk is the proven master of boxing technique. Verhoeven is the bigger man and one of the most accomplished heavyweight kickboxers ever. The event asks a fascinating question: can years of world-class striking success translate quickly enough to challenge the best boxer in the heavyweight division?
Fans should watch three important factors:
- Usyk’s movement and angles: Can Verhoeven contain a southpaw who constantly changes position and rhythm?
- Verhoeven’s size and pressure: Will the challenger be able to turn his physical advantages into effective boxing offense?
- The pace over 12 rounds: Usyk traditionally becomes stronger as opponents tire, while Verhoeven brings years of elite-level conditioning from kickboxing.
The opening rounds should reveal how successfully Verhoeven has adapted to boxing and whether Usyk can impose his usual tactical control against such an unfamiliar opponent.
Sheeraz vs. Begic leads a championship undercard
The supporting card features another world-title fight as unbeaten British star Hamzah Sheeraz meets undefeated Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super-middleweight championship. Both fighters enter with perfect records, making the co-feature a high-stakes battle for divisional supremacy.
Jack Catterall also faces unbeaten Shakhram Giyasov in a major welterweight championship contest. Catterall brings experience against elite opposition, while Giyasov looks to turn an undefeated professional run into his first major world title.
Heavyweight contenders Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. meet in another important bout. Sanchez’s polished technique will be tested by the aggressive, unbeaten American Olympic medalist in a matchup that could reshape the heavyweight rankings.
The card also includes WBO and Ring super-flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta defending against Mai Soliman, plus Daniel Lapin against Benjamin Mendes Tani at light heavyweight. The combination of title fights, unbeaten contenders and heavyweight action gives “Glory in Giza” depth beyond its unique main event.
How to watch Usyk vs. Verhoeven on DAZN
Usyk vs. Verhoeven will stream live and exclusively through DAZN pay-per-view. In the United States, the listed PPV price is $59.99. The event is also included for eligible DAZN Ultimate subscribers, subject to the terms of their plan.
To watch, open the DAZN app or visit DAZN.com on a supported device, sign in or create an account, locate “Usyk vs. Verhoeven: Glory in Giza” and select the available purchase or viewing option.
DAZN can be watched on compatible smart TVs, phones, tablets, computers, game consoles and streaming media players. Because this is a daytime event for viewers in North America, fans should note the early 1:00 p.m. ET main-card start.
Prices, plan terms and availability can vary by country. Check DAZN in your region for the current offer before the broadcast begins.
Don’t miss Glory in Giza
Oleksandr Usyk has beaten every professional boxer placed in front of him. Rico Verhoeven dominated heavyweight kickboxing for more than a decade and now accepts the most ambitious challenge of his fighting career.
The champion has the boxing experience, movement and résumé. The challenger has the size, strength and striking pedigree to make the night unpredictable. All of it will unfold against the unforgettable backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza.
Watch Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven live on DAZN on Saturday, May 23. The main card begins at 1:00 p.m. ET, with the heavyweight title-fight ring walks expected at approximately 5:48 p.m. ET.
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