Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight championship against Rico Verhoeven today, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in a landmark event titled “Glory in Giza.” The 39-year-old Ukrainian champion meets the Dutch kickboxing star in an open-air ring situated at the Giza necropolis, marking the first time a professional fight has been held at the historic site of the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx. While Usyk’s WBC title is officially on the line, the bout represents a unique crossover between boxing’s elite and the kickboxing world.
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has confirmed that a victory for Oleksandr Usyk will count as a successful defense of his WBA (Super) heavyweight title. However, because Rico Verhoeven is unranked in professional boxing, the WBA belt will not be at stake for the challenger. Similar concerns led the IBF and WBO to refuse to sanction the bout entirely, meaning those titles held by the Ukrainian will not be contested during this weekend’s event in Egypt.
Verhoeven, aged 37, is a former Glory Heavyweight Champion with a formidable 49-8 kickboxing record. Despite his pedigree in combat sports, he has only one professional boxing match under his belt, which he won by knockout. This disparity is reflected in the betting markets, where Usyk is a heavy favorite against the kickboxing star, listed as short as -3000 at some sportsbooks, while Verhoeven sits as high as a +11000 underdog.
Start time and international broadcast details
The main card for “Glory in Giza” is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM BST (1:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM local time in Egypt). Fans tuning in specifically for the heavyweight main event can expect ringwalks to take place at approximately 10:48 PM BST (5:48 PM ET). Due to the time difference, local spectators at the Giza necropolis will see the fighters enter the ring in the early hours of Sunday morning, around 12:48 AM EEST.
DAZN holds the exclusive global broadcasting rights for the event, offering multiple ways for fans to watch. The fight is available as a standalone Pay-Per-View (PPV) for £24.99 in the UK or $59.99 in the United States. Alternatively, subscribers to the DAZN Ultimate Tier can access the fight as part of their plan, which includes at least 12 PPV events annually for a monthly fee of £24.99 (UK) or $44.99 (US).
Full undercard lineup for Glory in Giza
The event features a mix of world title fights and high-stakes eliminators. Highlighting the undercard is a clash for the vacant WBO super middleweight championship between Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic. Additionally, heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr. faces Frank Sanchez in a final eliminator for the IBF world heavyweight title, a bout expected to be a technical highlight of the evening.
The confirmed fight card includes:
- Oleksandr Usyk (c) vs. Rico Verhoeven: WBC Heavyweight Championship
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic: Vacant WBO Super Middleweight Championship
- Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov: Welterweight contest
- Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Frank Sanchez: Heavyweight IBF Final Eliminator
- Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman: WBO Women’s Super Flyweight Championship
The welterweight meeting between Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov serves as one of the primary supporting acts. While Giyasov currently holds a version of the WBA title in the weight class, this specific matchup is listed as a non-title welterweight bout. This historic event follows months of planning, with early reports suggesting Usyk’s next bout could be set for Giza becoming a reality today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time are the ringwalks for Usyk vs Verhoeven?
The main event ringwalks are expected to begin at approximately 10:48 PM BST (5:48 PM ET). In Egypt, the local time for the main event will be approximately 12:48 AM EEST on Sunday morning. These timings may shift depending on the duration of the undercard fights.
Are all the heavyweight world titles on the line?
No, only the WBC heavyweight title is officially at stake for both contenders. The WBA will credit Usyk with a defense of his Super title if he wins, but the belt is not available to Verhoeven. The IBF and WBO titles are not at stake because those organizations did not sanction the fight.
Where can I stream the fight live tonight?
The entire card is being broadcast globally on DAZN. Fans can purchase the event via the DAZN app on smart TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles, or through the web browser. Pricing is set at £24.99 or $59.99 for the standalone Pay-Per-View purchase.
