Overview
- The WBC confirmed its heavyweight title will be at stake when Oleksandr Usyk faces kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven in Giza on May 23.
- Light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and IBF mandatory Michael Eifert reached a deal that canceled a scheduled purse bid, with their fight planned for the undercard as Bivol returns from back surgery.
- Usyk outlined a retirement plan targeting Verhoeven first, then the Fabio Wardley–Daniel Dubois winner, and finally a Tyson Fury trilogy, with promoter Frank Warren signaling interest in making those bouts.
- WBC interim titlist Agit Kabayel criticized Usyk’s stated route and could be ordered next for the full title, creating tension over Usyk’s preferred sequencing.
- Reports indicate the event will stream on Netflix, with full undercard details still to be finalized.