Oleksandr Usyk defended his unified IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight titles against former GLORY Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Pyramids of Giza. The highly anticipated crossover bout served as the first appearance of the year for Oleksandr Usyk, the first male boxer to become a three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era. While Rico Verhoeven entered the ring as a decorated kickboxing legend, the match marked only his second professional outing in a traditional boxing ring.
The event, staged beneath the shadow of the Giza necropolis near Cairo, carried specific title implications for both men. Under the sanctioning agreements, a victory for the 39-year-old Oleksandr Usyk would count as successful defenses of his WBC, WBA, and IBF hardware. However, if the 37-year-old Rico Verhoeven secured the upset, he would only be recognized as the WBC champion, with the IBF and WBA belts subsequently becoming vacant. Results from the main event are still being finalized as officials process the live scorecards from the Egyptian desert.
Broadcast globally via DAZN Pay-Per-View and the DAZN Ultimate Tier, the card drew significant attention for its unique historical backdrop. Fans in the United Kingdom accessed the stream for £24.99, while U.S. viewers paid $59.99 to witness the spectacle. The ringwalks for the headliners were scheduled for approximately 10:48 PM BST, following a stacked undercard that featured several quick finishes and major regional title changes.
Frank Sanchez and Hamzah Sheeraz secure rapid stoppages
The heavyweight and middleweight divisions saw immediate shifts as the preliminary bouts delivered explosive results. Frank Sanchez made a statement early in the evening by defeating Richard Torrez Jr. via TKO at just 0:55 of the second round. This victory allowed Frank Sanchez to claim the WBC Americas and WBO NABO heavyweight titles. You can find more details on how Richard Torrez Jr. approached this bout prior to the early stoppage.
In the middleweight ranks, Hamzah Sheeraz maintained his momentum by knocking out Alem Begic in the second round. The victory earned Hamzah Sheeraz the vacant WBO middleweight title, positioning him as a major force in the 160-pound landscape. These early performances set a high bar for the evening, ensuring the crowd at the Pyramids remained engaged throughout the broadcast.
Jack Catterall and Mizuki Hiruta claim decision victories
While the heavy hitters found early finishes, other championship contests went the full scheduled distance. Jack Catterall secured the vacant WBA Regular welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Shakhram Giyasov. The judges scored the 12-round contest 119-108, 116-111, and 118-109, reflecting a disciplined and dominant performance by the British fighter. The win further fuels speculation about future domestic clashes, including rumors that a Fury-Joshua bout may land in November as the British boxing scene continues to peak.
Mizuki Hiruta also retained her status as a double champion by defeating Mai Soliman over ten rounds. The Japanese star successfully defended her WBO and Ring female super flyweight titles via unanimous decision. The official scorecards were 99-91, 98-92, and 98-92, which underscored Hiruta’s technical superiority throughout the fight.
Benjamin Mendes Tani dominates light heavyweight contest
In a significant light heavyweight development, Benjamin Mendes Tani stopped Daniel Lapin to secure two major regional accolades. The TKO finish occurred at 1:35 of the fourth round. With this win, Benjamin Mendes Tani claimed the IBF Inter-Continental and WBO International light heavyweight titles. It remains to be seen how this affects the broader hierarchy of the division, especially as other major stars like Vasiliy Lomachenko contemplate their returns to the ring in separate weight classes.
Logistics and historical context of the Giza event
The Pyramids of Giza provided one of the most visually distinctive venues in modern sports history. For Oleksandr Usyk, the fight is believed to be the first of a planned three-fight farewell tour before he officially retires from the sport. Standing 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) with a 78-inch reach, the southpaw champion entered as a massive -1600 favorite according to BetMGM, while Rico Verhoeven was positioned as a +800 underdog.
Rico Verhoeven’s transition to boxing follows a legendary career in kickboxing, where he was the longest-reigning GLORY Heavyweight Champion with 13 successful defenses. He vacated that title in November 2025 to pursue this high-stakes opportunity in Cairo. While he entered with only a 1-0 professional boxing record, his combat sports pedigree made him a unique challenge for the unified champion.
As the boxing world awaits the official confirmation of the main event scorecard, the success of the Egyptian production highlights a growing trend of major fight cards moving to North Africa and the Middle East. With heavyweights like Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley also making moves, the division’s future remains a focal point of global sports news heading into the summer months.
