WBA Clears Usyk to Defend Heavyweight Title vs. Verhoeven Under Strict Terms

Overview

• The WBA, which announced its decision Thursday, authorized Oleksandr Usyk to carry his heavyweight title into the May 23 bout with Rico Verhoeven under strict terms.
• The sanctioning body said Verhoeven cannot win the WBA belt because he is unranked, though a victory would make him eligible for the organization’s heavyweight rankings.
• If Usyk loses, the WBA Championship Committee will review his status to decide the next step for the title.
• The WBC has already approved its belt for the fight, while the IBF’s position remains unclear according to current reporting.
• The event, called Glory in Giza, will be held at the Pyramids in Egypt and stream on DAZN, with sportsbooks pricing Usyk near 1/20 against Verhoeven at roughly 8/1.