Usyk to Defend WBC Title Against Kickboxer Verhoeven at Giza Necropolis

WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is set to defend his title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in a crossover bout titled 'Glory in Giza'. The event is scheduled for Saturday, 22 May 2026, at the Giza Necropolis in Cairo, Egypt. This marks the first time the Pyramids of Giza have hosted a championship boxing event. The bout is a voluntary defence, meaning only the WBC belt is officially on the line.

The main card commences at 1 p.m. ET, which corresponds to 6 p.m. BST and 8 p.m. local time in Egypt. DAZN’s full broadcast, including the undercard, opens approximately between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET. Projected ring walks for the main event are estimated at 5:48 p.m. ET, translating to roughly 12:48 a.m. local time in Egypt on Sunday.

Usyk enters the bout with a record of 24-0 (15 KOs), having last defeated Daniel Dubois in July 2025. Verhoeven holds a professional boxing record of 1-0, having previously been a GLORY kickboxing champion. The event booking strategy is compared to the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson matchup, reflecting a broader trend of crossover events that blur the lines between traditional combat sports and entertainment spectacle.

The undercard features legitimate competition, with fighters including Hamzah Sheeraz, Jack Catterall, and Richard Torrez Jr. scheduled to appear before the main event. This depth is intended to provide substance to the schedule leading into the headline bout, which has faced scrutiny regarding its competitive nature due to Verhoeven’s limited professional boxing experience.

Viewers in the United States can access the event via DAZN with a pay-per-view price of $59.99. The timing offers a rare daytime heavyweight title fight for American audiences, while fans in the UK and Egypt will view the main event during prime-time or late-night hours. The venue’s historic significance ensures the event will have a distinct visual profile, regardless of the sporting debate surrounding the matchup.