On 23 May, at the foot of the Egyptian Pyramids in Giza — Alexander Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven. Five belts are on the line: IBF, WBC, WBA Super, The Ring, and the exclusive King of the Nile title. The main card starts at 18:00 UTC, with the headline bout expected around 20:30 UTC. The event — The Ring: Glory in Giza — is designed as a spectacle: professional boxing with one of history’s most iconic backdrops.
Usyk: 24-0, Four Belts, the Best Heavyweight on the Planet
Alexander Usyk is the undisputed best heavyweight in the world. Record: 24–0 (15 KO). Two wins over Fury, two over Joshua. His style is technical boxing at a high tempo — excellent footwork, sharp combinations, and elite ring IQ. This fight holds no real sporting danger for Usyk — it is a global spectacle with a massive audience.
Verhoeven: Kickboxing Legend, Boxing Newcomer
Rico Verhoeven is one of the greatest kickboxers in history: 66–10 (21 KO) in Glory Kickboxing, world champion for over a decade. But his professional boxing record stands at just 1 fight, 1 win. He has never faced a top-level professional boxer. All respect for his athleticism — these are simply different sports.
Full Card (Glory in Giza)
| Fight | Division / Status |
|---|---|
| Usyk (24-0) vs Verhoeven (1-0) | Heavyweight — IBF, WBC, WBA Super, The Ring, King of the Nile |
| Sheeraz (22-0-1) vs Begic (29-0-1) | Super-middleweight — vacant WBO title |
| Sanchez (25-1) vs Torrez (14-0) | Heavyweight |
| Giyasov (18-0) vs Catterall (32-2) | Welterweight |
| Hiruta (10-0) vs Soliman (10-1) | Women’s Lightweight |
A stacked card: the co-main event pits two undefeated fighters — Sheeraz vs Begic — for the vacant WBO super-middleweight belt. Plus Sanchez–Torrez in the heavyweight division, both with legitimate championship aspirations.
Odds and Betting
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Usyk wins | 1.03–1.05 |
| Verhoeven wins | ~10.00 |
Betting on Usyk at 1.03 is not about profit. The value is in alternative markets:
- Over 5.5 rounds — ~1.76. Usyk rarely rushes. He tends to control, work his combinations, and break opponents down. This could be a patient, late-round performance.
- Usyk wins in rounds 10–12 — ~5.60. In 5 of his last 7 fights Usyk won by decision. A late stoppage or points win at the final bell is a very realistic scenario.
- Usyk wins by KO — ~2.50–2.80. Verhoeven is physically tough, but he’s never absorbed elite heavyweight punching. Nobody knows how his chin holds up in this context.
How to Watch and Where to Bet
Undercard starts at 14:15 UTC, main card at 18:00 UTC, Usyk–Verhoeven expected around 20:30 UTC. Broadcast: DAZN and regional partners.
- 1xBet — live boxing markets, round-by-round betting
- Marathonbet — method of victory and total rounds markets
- bet365 — live stream + in-play betting
