Oleksandr Usyk prepares for Verhoeven title fight, signals readiness for Fury trilogy

Ukrainian two‑time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Dutch kick‑boxing champion Rico Verhoeven on 23 May at the Pyramids of Giza. The bout, promoted as a Ring fight and streamed live on DAZN pay‑per‑view, pits Usyk’s 24‑0 record against Verhoeven’s solitary professional boxing match and extensive kick‑boxing pedigree.

Ahead of the fight, Usyk told DAZN reporters his pound‑for‑pound top five includes Terence Crawford, Canelo Álvarez, Steven Shakur Stevenson, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. He also posted a video stating, “I’m ready, always… Las Vegas, New York, Saudi Arabia, wherever,” confirming his openness to a third encounter with Fury. Fury responded, mentioning plans to face Anthony Joshua before a possible rematch with Usyk. Usyk also faces a mandatory defense against challenger Agit Kabayel scheduled for September, a requirement for keeping his title.

The fight marks a shift from Usyk’s recent British‑opponent matchups and adds a high‑profile unification narrative to the heavyweight division.