Cairo is set to host a historic night in combat sports as Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk prepares to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven. The fight, scheduled for May 23, will take place at the Pyramids of Giza, one of the most iconic locations in Egypt and the world.
The event, titled “Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons,” will bring together two elite athletes from different combat sports disciplines in a highly anticipated crossover boxing match.
Oleksandr Usyk enters the bout as one of the top heavyweight boxers in the world, holding an undefeated professional record of 24 wins, including 15 knockouts. The Ukrainian champion, a two-time undisputed heavyweight titleholder, will defend his WBC belt, while his WBA and IBF titles are not on the line.
Rico Verhoeven, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time, steps into the boxing ring with limited professional boxing experience. The Dutch fighter retired from kickboxing in late 2025 after achieving 66 wins in 76 fights, dominating the sport for over a decade.
This matchup stands out as a rare boxing vs kickboxing crossover fight at the highest level. While crossover fights have become more common in recent years, this bout is particularly significant due to the world title at stake and the historic setting in Cairo.
Oleksandr Usyk has not fought since his victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July of the previous year. Since 2021, he has secured major wins against top heavyweights, including Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Dubois, further cementing his dominance in the division.
With limited traditional challengers remaining, Usyk has turned to this high-profile crossover fight as a new challenge in his career.
Rico Verhoeven, 36, enters the bout after an illustrious kickboxing career that saw him dominate the heavyweight division for years. Although his boxing experience is limited to a single professional bout in 2014, he has embraced the challenge of facing one of boxing’s elite champions.
Verhoeven described the fight as an opportunity to test himself at the highest level, framing it as a clash between two champions from different combat sports.
The fight has also drawn attention following the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) decision to sanction the bout despite Verhoeven’s limited boxing record. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman stated that achievements in other combat sports, such as kickboxing, can be considered when evaluating crossover opportunities.
Hosting the fight at the Pyramids of Giza adds a unique cultural and global appeal to the event, positioning Egypt as a growing destination for major international sporting events.
The event will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN, with further details regarding tickets and event logistics expected to be announced soon.
As anticipation builds, the combination of elite fighters, a world title, and a historic location makes this one of the most unique events in modern combat sports.
While Oleksandr Usyk is widely seen as the favorite, crossover fights have shown that unexpected outcomes are always possible.
