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Usyk Defends WBC Heavyweight Title Against Rico Verhoeven at Pyramids of Giza

DAZN sold the May 23 pay‑per‑view that paired a top pound‑for‑pound boxer with a kickboxing legend to headline a multi‑title undercard.

Overview

  • Oleksandr Usyk, listed 24-0 with 15 KOs, defended the WBC heavyweight title on Saturday, May 23 against Rico Verhoeven, a long‑time GLORY kickboxing champion who has only one prior professional boxing bout on his record.
  • Promoters staged the show, billed as “Glory in Giza,” in a temporary outdoor arena using the illuminated Pyramids of Giza as a backdrop and designed seating to protect the archaeological site while scheduling the main event late at night to avoid daytime heat.
  • DAZN held exclusive global pay‑per‑view rights for the event and published regional PPV prices, for example USD 59.99 in the United States and €19.99 in Spain, making the platform the only official legal viewing option in most markets.
  • The undercard carried championship stakes with multiple title fights, including Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic for the WBO/OMB super‑middle belt and Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov among other world‑level bouts on the card.
  • The cross‑discipline main event raised questions about competitive legitimacy within boxing circles and could shape future match‑making, promotional strategies and the use of landmark venues for global boxing shows.