(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Oleksandr Usyk’s next defense of his WBC heavyweight title, which occurs in Giza, Egypt, on May 23, was today described as “iconic”, “an absolute spectacle”, “record-breaking” and a “fantasy that’s come to life”.
Some of the hyperbole was, of course, a nod to the setting as opposed to the fight which, if all goes to plan, will take place at the foot of the famous pyramids.
There was also a lot of tiptoeing around the truth, at a media event designed to drum up interest in a blatant mismatch, that the Ukrainian legend’s opponent, Rico Verhoeven, has next to no chance of winning.
The career kickboxer has boxing experience of sorts, however. Most famously, he used to regularly spar an up-and-coming Tyson Fury. He’s also had a professional contest but that it occurred in 2014, against an 0-5 Janos Finfera, makes the 37-year-old’s 1-0 (1 KO) record somewhat inconsequential. The Dutchman is here purely for his, admittedly considerable, prowess in another combat discipline.
Since Verhoeven’s debut, Usyk has cleaned out the cruiserweight class to achieve ‘undisputed’ status and repeated the feat twice at heavyweight, a division in which he can boast two wins over each of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Peter Fury, Verhoeven’s trainer, talked up his charge’s chances against the 24-0 (15 KOs) pound-for-pound leader of the sport.
“We go back a long way, about 15 years, I’ve always done the boxing-side of his training,” Fury said of Verhoeven at the London press conference.
“If ever there is a guy that likes to climb Mount Everest, it is Rico Verhoeven. He’s a phenomenal person, like Usyk. Of course it’s a difficult challenge.”
Eddie Hearn, there on the side of the challenger who had previously signed to fight Anthony Joshua prior to the Englishman surviving a tragic car crash, took the baton from Fury and ran with it. “What [Verhoeven] has is dynamite in both hands and hands like shovels,” said the natural-born promoter. “This man has a pyramid to climb. But I look in his eyes and he’s coming to win.”
Usyk, typically mischievous and charismatic, explained why – as the world heavyweight champion – he accepted this fight when other opponents, like Agit Kabayel and Fabio Wardley, were overlooked.
“I feel good,” said the 39-year-old. “For me, it’s a challenge. A lot of people say, ‘why are you not fighting a boxer?’ Please, one time, I want to do what…
2026-04-14 18:19:12
