Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against GLORY Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The “Glory in Giza” event marks the first professional boxing card ever held at the ancient landmark. While Oleksandr Usyk currently holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles, sanctioning bodies have confirmed that Rico Verhoeven is only eligible to win the WBC belt in this crossover heavyweight clash.
The champion enters the bout with a perfect 24-0 professional boxing record, while his opponent, a dominant force in the kickboxing world for a decade, holds a 1-0 record in the boxing ring. The contest represents a unique bridge between combat sports disciplines. Rico Verhoeven stated he has “conquered everything in kickboxing” and expressed it is an honor to face the man many consider the best technician in the division. Despite the risk to his titles, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk have previously discussed meeting for a third time, but the Ukrainian must first get past the “King of Kickboxing.”
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Matchroom Boxing are supporting the open-air production, which sits against one of the world’s most recognizable backdrops. The heavyweight landscape has seen shifts recently, such as when Fabio Wardley activated a rematch clause against Daniel Dubois, but the international focus remains on the Giza showdown. Oleksandr Usyk has emphasized respect for his opponent’s discipline, noting that being a champion requires years of belief and hard work, though he cautioned that the boxing ring follows its own rules.
Match card for the Glory in Giza event
The “Glory in Giza” card features ten confirmed bouts with a significant emphasis on title implications. Beyond the main event, the co-feature pits Hamzah Sheeraz against Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super-middleweight crown. In addition to the heavyweight focus, several lower-weight classes are represented with regional and world titles on the line.
- Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven: WBC Heavyweight Title
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic: WBO Super Middleweight Title
- Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov: WBA (Regular) Welterweight Title
- Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr.: IBF Heavyweight title eliminator
- Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman: Ring and WBO Super-flyweight Titles
- Daniel Lapin vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani: WBA, WBO, and IBF Intercontinental Titles
- Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley
- Mahmoud Mobark vs. Michael Kalyalya
- Omar Hikal vs. Ali Sserunkuma
- Sultan Almohammed vs. Dedy Imprax
Global start times and ring walk schedule
The main card for the Giza event is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM EEST (local Egyptian time). Fans watching from the United Kingdom can tune in at 6:00 PM BST, while the broadcast begins at 1:00 PM ET for viewers in the United States. This marks the beginning of the primary international telecast featuring the WBO and WBA championship bouts.
Estimates for the main event ring walks place the arrival of the heavyweights at approximately 12:00 AM EEST on Sunday, May 24, in Giza. For international audiences watching on Saturday, May 23, this translates to 10:00 PM BST in London and 5:00 PM ET in New York. These approximate timings depend on the duration of the preceding eight matches on the card.
Broadcast details and pay-per-view pricing
The event will be broadcast globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View and will also be available on the DAZN Ultimate Tier. Viewers do not require a standard monthly subscription to purchase the “Glory in Giza” card as a standalone event. Those who do sign up for a new subscription alongside the PPV purchase may be eligible for a free month of the service.
Pricing for the event is set at £24.99 in the United Kingdom and $59.99 in the United States. DAZN is also offering technical bundle options for US fans to include other major cards, such as the matches featuring Zayas or Boots, for prices ranging between $107.99 and $120.99. In-person tickets are currently available via the Tazkarti platform for fans traveling to the open-air venue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight?
The fight will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per-View and the DAZN Ultimate Tier globally. Fans can purchase the event as a standalone pay-per-view without needing a prior subscription to the platform.
What time will the main event ring walks occur?
The ring walks for Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven are approximately scheduled for 10:00 PM BST or 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, May 23, which is 12:00 AM local time in Egypt (EEST) on Sunday, May 24.
Which belts are on the line for Rico Verhoeven?
Rico Verhoeven is only eligible to win the WBC heavyweight title in this bout. Although Oleksandr Usyk holds the WBA and IBF titles, the sanctioning bodies have only authorized the defense of the WBC belt for this specific crossover matchup.
