Oleksandr Usyk puts his WBC heavyweight title on the line against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on Saturday 23 May 2026 at one of the most spectacular venues in combat sports history – in front of the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Billed “Glory in Giza”, this is the biggest crossover event in boxing since Mayweather vs McGregor and the first heavyweight world title fight ever held in Egypt. Here is everything you need to know before fight night.

Ring Walk Times by Region

Ring walk times are approximate and subject to undercard duration.

How to Watch

Glory in Giza is available via DAZN PPV worldwide. Promoted by Matchroom and Turki Alalshikh, the event streams exclusively on DAZN in the UK, US, and internationally. DAZN’s Ultimate plan includes PPV events within the subscription; the Standard plan requires purchasing the event separately.

DAZN is available on iOS, Android, Smart TV, Firestick, Roku, PC, and most streaming devices.

Fighter Stats and Records

The Context

Usyk enters this fight as the undisputed pound-for-pound king of boxing. He has defeated Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois — twice each in the case of Joshua and Fury. His last outing was a fifth-round knockout of Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July 2025 in which he reclaimed the IBF title. At 39 and unbeaten in 24 professional bouts he has described this as the opening fight in a three-fight retirement run: Verhoeven, the winner of Wardley vs Dubois, then a possible Tyson Fury trilogy.

Verhoeven is one of the most dominant champions in combat sports history. He held the GLORY Heavyweight Kickboxing title for over a decade and is widely considered the greatest heavyweight kickboxer of his generation. He trains under Peter Fury and has a significant size advantage at 6ft 5in and around 270 pounds. His professional boxing record, however, consists of one fight — a knockout victory over a winless opponent in 2014. He has not boxed professionally in 12 years.

Most boxing observers view this as a spectacle event rather than a genuine title threat — a crossover contest in the tradition of Joshua vs Ngannou and Fury vs Ngannou. The extraordinary venue, the novelty of two undisputed champions from different disciplines facing each other, and Usyk’s status as the best boxer on the planet make it a globally significant event regardless of the competitive dynamics.

Undercard

Usyk’s Recent Form

Won vs Daniel Dubois (KO 5, July 2025) — Won vs Tyson Fury (UD, December 2024) — Won vs Tyson Fury (SD, May 2024) — Won vs Daniel Dubois (TKO 9, September 2023) — Won vs Anthony Joshua (UD, August 2022).

Six consecutive wins over three of the best heavyweights of this era. The most complete heavyweight champion since the peak of Lennox Lewis.

What Happens Next

Win or lose for Verhoeven, the bigger story is what Usyk does after Giza. The WBC has given Usyk permission for this voluntary defence but has made clear that a mandatory against WBC Interim Champion Agit Kabayel must follow or Usyk risks being stripped. Simultaneously, Usyk’s team has publicly stated their preference for the Wardley-Dubois winner – now Daniel Dubois after last week’s result – as the next fight, followed by a Tyson Fury trilogy. How those competing demands are resolved will shape the heavyweight division for the rest of 2026.

Streaming Options

For viewers who subscribe to internet television services, major boxing events including WBC heavyweight title fights are typically included within standard subscriptions without an additional pay-per-view charge. If you already use an internet TV service, check whether the relevant broadcast channel is included in your package before purchasing separately via DAZN.

For viewers looking to explore internet TV options, a number of services offer free trials — enough time to evaluate the service and watch a major event before deciding whether to subscribe. See our streaming service trial guide for more information.

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Ring walk times are approximate and subject to undercard duration.