Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defends his title against kickboxing veteran Rico Verhoeven today, May 23, 2026, at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt. The “Glory in Giza” event, which starts its main card broadcast at 1:00 PM ET on DAZN, features a stacked schedule including two world title fights and a critical IBF heavyweight eliminator. While Oleksandr Usyk enters the ring as a staggering -2500 favourite, the spectacle of the Giza plateau and the unusual challenge posed by Rico Verhoeven have made this one of the most discussed events in recent years.
The main event pits the technical brilliance of Oleksandr Usyk, who holds a professional record of 24-0 with wins over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, against a man who dominated the GLORY kickboxing heavyweight division for 12 years. Rico Verhoeven, currently +1100 with oddsmakers, is coached by Peter Fury for this transition. Despite his kickboxing pedigree, Rico Verhoeven has only one professional boxing bout on his resume, making this a true “cross-over” test against one of the sport’s pound-for-pound leaders.
Fans worldwide can access the event through
DAZN Pay-Per-View for £24.99 in the UK or $59.99 in the US. Alternatively, those on the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which costs £24.99 per month in the UK and $44.99 in the US, receive the event as part of their package along with 11 other annual pay-per-view events.
Full list of fights on the Usyk vs. Verhoeven undercard
The “Glory in Giza” card features eight fights in total, including the heavyweight main event. However, specific broadcast schedules confirm nine bouts will take place prior to the championship main event walk-outs, which are scheduled for approximately 10:48 PM BST.
The confirmed bouts leading up to the main event are:
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic: Vacant WBO Super Middleweight Title (Co-main event)
- Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov: WBA Regular Welterweight Belt
- Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr.: IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator
- Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman: Ring and WBO Women’s Super Flyweight Titles
- Daniel Lapin vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani: Light Heavyweight
- Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley: TBD
- Mahmoud Mobark vs. Michael Kalyalya: TBD
- Omar Hikal vs. Ali Sserunkuma: TBD
- Daniel Lapin vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani: Light Heavyweight
The co-main event features 26-year-old Hamzah Sheeraz, currently ranked No. 8 at super middleweight by The Ring, facing Alem Begic. Hamzah Sheeraz is fresh off a stoppage win over Edgar Berlanga and is a heavy -2500 favourite to claim the vacant WBO world title. Alem Begic, a 39-year-old from Munich, Germany, brings an unbeaten 29-0-1 record but faces a significant step up in quality against the young Briton.
Heavyweight eliminator: Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr.
The IBF heavyweight title eliminator between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. is widely seen as the most explosive matchup of the evening. The winner will be positioned to challenge the victor of the Usyk-Verhoeven main event for the IBF belt. This bout was originally scheduled for March but was delayed after Frank Sanchez suffered a knee injury.
Frank Sanchez, often called the division’s “boogeyman,” is a highly technical Cuban boxer with a 25-1 record. He faces the relentless aggression of Richard Torrez Jr., the 2020 Olympic silver medalist who has knocked out 12 of his 14 opponents.
Richard Torrez Jr. anticipates that this clash will be a classic encounter between a slick boxer and a high-volume power puncher. Oddmakers currently favour the younger Richard Torrez Jr. at -425.
Defining 50/50 clash at welterweight
While the heavyweights may grab the headlines, the welterweight bout between Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov is being touted as the most competitive fight of the night. Jack Catterall, an English southpaw with a 32-2 record, is currently the -230 favourite. He enters the ring following a stoppage victory over Ekow Essuman last November.
Shakhram Giyasov, an Olympic silver medalist from Uzbekistan, remains undefeated at 17-0 and is ranked No. 7 by The Ring at 147 pounds—three spots higher than Jack Catterall. This WBA Regular welterweight title fight represents a significant crossroads for both men. The winner will likely move into position for a full world title shot later this year.
In the women’s ranks,
Mizuki Hiruta defends her WBO super flyweight title against Mai Soliman. This bout is of high importance to the division, as both The Ring and WBO 115-pound belts are at stake. The inclusion of these multiple title bouts ensures that “Glory in Giza” serves as more than just a spectacle, offering genuine divisional consequences across various weight classes.
