The most anticipated fight of the year between multiple world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxer Rico Verhoeven is already being watched by millions of viewers around the world. The fight will take place very soon, starting at 9:00 PM on May 23, 2026.
However, many are wondering: what rules will the fight follow? And this is a logical question, because one is the strongest boxer in the world, the other is the unchanging favorite of kickboxing since 2014 according to specialized publications. That is why this fight is already being called one of the most unconventional in modern sports.
Read also: New Usyk Fight in 2026: Date, Where to Watch and Who is Rico Verhoeven’s Opponent
So, in this article below, we have sorted out and are ready to give you the answer to the main question: what rules will the fight between Usyk and Verhoeven take place under — boxing or kickboxing?
What is the format of the Usyk – Verkhoven fight?
The fight will take place in Egypt under the open sky on May 23 at 9:00 PM according to the rules of professional boxing. The fight will consist of classic boxing rounds and within the framework of typical boxing rules, namely: only punches can be used , any kicks, including knees, and elbows are prohibited . The opponents will compete in classic boxing gloves (fully closed fingers), not kickboxing gloves. The standard duration is up to 12 rounds of 3 minutes, with the exception of knockout (early stoppage of the fight by the judge’s decision).
This format is quite logical, because the fight is announced as a defense of Oleksandr Usyk’s titles , which were won in the professional boxing ring. Accordingly, the defense of boxing titles will naturally take place according to the same rules under which they were won.
Why not kickboxing?
Although Rico Verhoeven is a world legend in the kickboxing league, holding a fight according to his rules is not possible for a number of reasons:
- titles for the fight, this is Oleksandr Usyk’s achievement as a boxer ;
- mixed rules would complicate the objectivity of the assessment and the scoring system itself in battle;
- The risk of injury to athletes increases significantly when kicks are allowed, and Usyk’s boxing matches themselves were not associated with a trained kicking technique (unlike a kickboxer who worked perfectly in all matches with a combination of kicks and punches).
Therefore, Verhoeven will have to adapt to boxing with its exclusively fist strikes , where he has significantly less experience.
Are “hybrid” rules possible?
Although there is currently an active discussion on the Internet about the option of a so-called “hybrid fight”, that is, when some of the rounds are held according to boxing rules and some according to kickboxing rules, in practice this is not a realistic scenario for the reasons we described in the article above.
The experts we interviewed also explained why this won’t happen:
- such fights are difficult to coordinate with the rules and official organizations for their holding;
- The victory cannot be recognized as legitimate for Usyk’s official titles as the world boxing champion in super heavyweight.
- There are many legal and medical restrictions and prohibitions.
Therefore, on May 23, 2026, in the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, we will see a classic boxing match (according to all the rules of professional boxing with gloves and classic 3-minute rounds).
Who will have the advantage under the rules of boxing?
The rules of the fight in such fights, where two world champions in different types of weight classes, directly affect the favorite in our case, Usyk, and it is clear that he has a complete advantage in his usual boxing format where he is the absolute champion. Verhoeven, on the other hand, in a fight according to boxing rules loses his main trump card – kicks and clinch in the style of kickboxing.
That is why all bookmakers are leaning towards the Ukrainian. The odds for Rico Verhoeven to win are currently 14.0, against Usyk 1.14
Conclusion: What can viewers expect?
Despite the obvious and strong advantage of Oleksandr Usyk, the fight against Rico Verhoeven remains not obvious, interesting and intriguing for several reasons, because this is a new style of opponent for a classic boxer (an unsolved mystery), non-standard tactical decisions of the kickboxer (with his signature style of direct blows) will be possible here + a big show factor from the organizers.
This will not just be a fight, but an experiment, and a new page in the history of both boxing and martial arts champions.
Want to receive more news on this topic? Subscribe to our Viber by simply clicking on this text!
