Usyk vs Verhoeven: Undercard, Date and UK time

Updated 03 March 2026, 18:00 GMT

Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight is against Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, 23 May 2026 in Giza, Egypt. The bout is for the WBC and Ring heavyweight titles, set against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, one of the most unique venues in modern boxing.

 

This fight will be a crossover heavyweight event between the leading heavyweight boxer and the most recognisable heavyweight kickboxer of the modern era.

 

Read here our indepth analysis of boxing v kickboxing. It also arrives at an important stage in Usyk’s career, with Ring Magazine reporting that he has outlined a three-fight run before retirement, even if the exact order of those future opponents may still change.

Usyk has outlined his three-fight plan before retirement

This marks the first step in what Usyk has described as a short final run before retirement. In a recent interview, he outlined a potential three-fight plan including Verhoeven, the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, and a possible bout with Tyson Fury, although he also mentioned Kabayel this month. Uysk is now also 39, will age play a factor in any of these fights?

 

The full Usyk vs Verhoeven Undercard Announced

  • Hamzah Sheeraz vs Aled Begic – WBC Super Middleweight Title
  • Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov – WBA Regular Welterweight World Championship
  • Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr – Heavyweight clash with serious implications
  • Mizuki Hiruta vs Nii Soliman – IBF & WBO Super Flyweight World Championship
  • Bader Mamdouh vs Janar Tellev
  • Mahmoud Mobarak vs Michael Kalayva
  • Omar Hikal vs Ali Serunkuma
Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven fight poster for Glory in Giza heavyweight title fight on 23 May 2026

How to watch Usyk vs Verhoeven in the UK

Usyk vs Verhoeven is to be shown live on DAZN in the UK. DAZN’s recent coverage treats the fight as part of Usyk’s active 2026 schedule, but the exact UK broadcast details, ringwalk times and any final event pricing should still be treated carefully unless confirmed on an official event listing.

 

Usyk vs Verhoeven date, venue and UK time

Usyk faces Verhoeven on Saturday, 23 May 2026 in Giza, Egypt. Future updates regarding the specific fight times will be shared here, once officially announced.

Why is Oleksandr Usyk fighting Rico Verhoeven?

The fight works on three levels: title defence, spectacle and career planning. Sky Sports reports that the WBC has allowed Usyk to make a voluntary defence before a mandatory, which helps explain why a crossover opponent like Verhoeven is possible here.

Verhoeven is not being sold as a conventional top-ranked boxing challenger. He is being sold as the dominant heavyweight kickboxer of his era, which makes the matchup unusual enough to attract worldwide attention while still carrying real sporting intrigue.

Keep up to date with all the latest news as fight week approaches.

Usyk v Verhoeven tale of the tape graphic showing age, record, knockouts, height, reach and stance comparison

Usyk vs Verhoeven FAQ

The card will stream exclusively on DAZN PPV in the UK, with the broadcast set to begin at midnight BST in the early hours of Sunday morning. Given the backdrop alone and a world title fight in front of the Great Pyramids, it’s worth the effort of staying up for UK fans. The official announcement was made by The Ring Magazine and Turki Alalshikh on 27 February 2026.

Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title and The Ring heavyweight championship are confirmed to be on the line. His IBF and WBA belts may also be at stake but is yet to be confirmed.

Rico Verhoeven is the Dutch heavyweight kickboxing star who has dominated Glory (Worlds Largest Kickboxing Org) for more than a decade. He has been the Glory heavyweight world champion since 2013 and is widely regarded as the best heavyweight kickboxer.

That matters because this fight is not interesting purely as a gimmick. Verhoeven brings elite size, long-term championship experience and real combat-sport pedigree. The issue is not whether he is a serious athlete. The issue is whether even a world-class kickboxer can cross into boxing and compete with a technician as complete as Usyk.

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