Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC world heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven today, Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The “Glory in Giza” event features the 39-year-old Ukrainian champion returning to the ring for the first time since his knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in July 2025. Facing him is the 37-year-old Verhoeven, a kickboxing icon making a transition to the squared circle with a professional boxing record of 1-0. The main card is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM BST, with the headline ringwalks expected at approximately 10:48 PM BST.
The open-air spectacle takes place beneath the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx, marking a historic moment for combat sports in the region. Oleksandr Usyk arrives with an unblemished 24-0 record and currently holds the unified heavyweight championship. This bout marks the start of a planned final chapter for the champion, who has expressed his intention to fight only three more times before retirement. Despite Verhoeven’s lack of boxing experience, the WBC has sanctioned the contest as a world title defense for the Ukrainian star.
Broadcast rights for the event are held exclusively by DAZN, with fans able to watch via DAZN Pay-Per-View or the DAZN Ultimate Tier globally. In the United Kingdom, the PPV price is set at £27.99, a fee that includes one month of DAZN standard access for free. Alternatively, UK viewers can opt for a one-off purchase of £24.99. For those in the United States, the standalone PPV cost is $59.99, though many fans may look toward the kickboxing star’s long-term transition into the sport as a reason to tune in.
Sanctioning details and US bundle offers
The title dynamics for this evening are specific. While Oleksandr Usyk is defending his WBC strap, the WBA (Super) heavyweight title will only count as a successful defense for Usyk if he wins and will not be at stake for Rico Verhoeven. Crucially, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has permitted Usyk to participate in this contest. This ruling ensures that the champion remains active across the major governing bodies while pursuing this unique crossover matchup in North Africa.
US fans have been offered specialized pricing tiers to watch the action from Giza. Beyond the standard $59.99 fee, DAZN has introduced bundle options. Viewers can purchase Usyk vs. Verhoeven alongside either Fury vs. Hall or the Zayas vs. Boots card for a combined price of $107.99. For those selecting the Zayas bundle option specifically, the total price is $120.99. This allows fans to secure multiple high-profile cards as part of a single transaction.
Complete Giza undercard and running order
The undercard features several world title bouts and high-stakes eliminators. In the co-main slot, Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for the WBO world super-middleweight title, scheduled for approximately 9:42 PM BST. Prior to that, Jack Catterall meets Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA world regular welterweight title at 8:39 PM BST. The card also includes a heavyweight clash between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr, which serves as a 12-round IBF world heavyweight title eliminator at 7:37 PM BST.
As Richard Torrez Jr faces Frank Sanchez in that pivotal eliminator, several other bouts fill the early schedule to complete the ten-fight lineup:
- Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman (WBO World Junior-Bantamweight) – 6:53 PM
- Daniel Lapin vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani – 6:00 PM
- Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley (Cruiserweight) – 5:30 PM
- Sultan Almohammed vs. Dedy Imprax (Lightweight) – 5:00 PM
- Omar Hikal vs. Ali Sserunkuma (Welterweight) – 4:30 PM
- Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya vs. Michael Kalyalya (Middleweight) – 4:00 PM
Technical gaps and fighter backgrounds
Oleksandr Usyk currently stands as the first male boxer to become a three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era. His experience is vast compared to Rico Verhoeven, who has only completed two professional rounds of boxing. The challenger’s 100% knockout ratio in his singular boxing win provides a statistical anomaly, but he faces a champion who recently defeated Tyson Fury to solidify his pound-for-pound standing. Fans can also follow remarks from the Usyk-Fury rivalry as a backdrop to this Giza event.
The event will be supported by live radio commentary in the UK on talkSPORT and BBC Radio 5 Live. Because the Pyramids of Giza venue is an open-air site, the atmosphere is expected to be unlike any other heavyweight championship fight in recent memory. DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers can access the entire card at no extra cost, including those on the new £22.99 per month introductory offer available in the United Kingdom.
