Overview
- The WBC has sanctioned Oleksandr Usyk’s voluntary heavyweight title defense against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza.
- The IBF and WBA have not confirmed whether their belts will be on the line, with stakeholders pressing for mandatories or potential elevation if those titles are withheld.
- Sky Sports released previously unseen 2015 footage of Verhoeven sparring Tyson Fury, and Peter Fury—his longtime boxing coach—will train and corner him for the bout.
- Verhoeven says he turned down a “decent” UFC offer reportedly to face Derrick Lewis, opting for higher‑profile boxing opportunities that shifted from Anthony Joshua to Usyk.
- Verhoeven recounts that Jason Statham connected him with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh, a relationship he says helped move the matchup from idea to agreement.