The date of the new fight in 2026 of Ukrainian world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has been announced. The fight with his new opponent Rico Verhoeven is officially scheduled for 9 p.m. on May 23, 2026. The Ukrainian is already officially preparing for the start of the new fight. His fight against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven is scheduled for May 23 and is already causing great interest among boxing fans around the world.
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Date and time of the fight Usyk – Verkhoven
The main event, titled The Ring: Glory in Giza, will take place in a unique location in Egypt near the pyramids in the city of Giza . Key details about the new fight:
Exact date of the fight between Usyk and Rico Verhoeven: May 23, 2026, 9:00 p.m.
Opponent information: Opponent Rico Verhoeven according to public sources (born April 10, 1989 – age 37 full years) is a current Dutch professional kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. Rico previously competed in the GLORY heavyweight division, where he was the promotion’s longest-reigning heavyweight champion, and also defended the title a record thirteen times. A professional since 2004, he has also competed in K-1, It’s Showtime and SUPERKOMBAT. Rico has consistently ranked number one among the world’s kickboxers according to Combat Press since September 2014, when the ranking was first created.
Exact location: near the town of Giza, in the Middle East, in the country of Egypt.
What belt will they fight for: Oleksandr Usyk’s voluntary defense of all his titles.
The format of the event is special and unusual at the same time, because the event will take place outdoors, next to one of the seven wonders of the world, which makes this boxing evening not only historic, but also very hot in the literal sense of the word.
Usyk returns to action after second win over Dubois
For Oleksandr Usyk, this will be his first appearance in the ring after a confident victory over Briton Daniel Dubois in July 2025. Then the Ukrainian once again confirmed his status as one of the strongest boxers in the world.
Since it is a big sport, it is also a large-scale event that brings a lot of money to its organizers, it is expected that the new fight will not only be a title defense, but also an incredibly spectacular world-class show that will be shown all over the world.
Why is this fight worth waiting for?
The Usyk-Verhoeven fight in May 2026 is worth your attention because from the very beginning it is unlike other similar boxer fights. Here are some new features for viewers and fans:
- An unusual opponent for Usyk: Verhoeven is a kickboxing star, which is a completely different sport, the rules (after all, kicks, punches, knees are allowed there, which are prohibited by boxing rules) Usyk will encounter this for the first time.
- Open location in the open air : fights near the pyramids are a rare occurrence in professional boxing, and the temperature regime of Egypt with its stable hot climate of +35 degrees adds even more peculiarity.
- Bookmakers are very interested in the fight: but all analysts are already calling Usyk the favorite of the fight.
Despite this, experts note new tactics that the world champion will have to work with, which does not rule out surprises, because the kickboxer’s style can create unpredictable difficulties for the Ukrainian.
Forecast and expectations
Bookmakers are already favoring Usyk (1.07 vs. 14.0 Rico Verhoeven) due to his unrivaled technique, experience, and boxing intelligence combined with strength. At the same time, a fight against a representative of another fighting discipline often becomes a real test of all skills at once.
The event is expected to attract an audience of millions worldwide and millions of online views, becoming one of the most high-profile sporting events in the world in 2026.
Where to watch Usyk’s new fight against Rico Verhoeven
Currently, the rights to broadcast the fight are available on the streaming service DAZN . The cost of watching the fight between Usyk and kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on the platform is 913 hryvnias.
Ukrainian sports TV channels or online services such as Megogo have not yet acquired the rights to broadcast the Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven fight. They may do so closer to the fight date of May 23, 2026.
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Conclusion:
The fight Oleksandr Usyk – Rico Verhoeven will take place at 9:00 PM on May 23, 2026. Oleksandr Usyk voluntarily agreed to defend all his titles at a large-scale open-air show in hot Egypt. Rico Verhoeven, the absolute kickboxing champion since 2014 according to the profile ratings of publications, does not plan to give in and wants to get a deal with all the belts of the absolute world champion.
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