Usyk to Defend WBC Title Against Kickboxer Verhoeven at Giza After London Faceoff

Overview

• The fighters held a launch event in London on Tuesday that ended with a prolonged staredown that promoter Eddie Hearn stepped in to stop.
• Usyk is scheduled to face Verhoeven for the WBC heavyweight belt on May 23 in Cairo at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza.
• The WBC has sanctioned the matchup as a voluntary title defense, while the WBA and IBF have not approved it as a title fight.
• Critics say the decision bypasses interim WBC champion Agit Kabayel and tests ranking standards because Verhoeven has only one pro boxing bout from 2014.
• The ruling departs from the council’s 2023 stance when it declined to sanction Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, prompting fresh questions about consistency.