From the official promotional material, it appears as if the bout will just be for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship rather than the other titles that Usyk holds.
In a blockbuster announcement that has immediately captured global attention, Oleksandr Usyk will go up against the Fury name once more.
But this time, it will be in one of the most historic and symbolic locations on earth.
Usyk enters his next bout not just as a generational great, but as the reigning WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine Heavyweight World Champion – further cementing his status at the very top of the sport.
The Ukrainian legend had already teased news of the bout being announced earlier today.
While Oleksandr Usyk has already twice defeated Tyson Fury, the Fury connection continues in this upcoming fight. The next man tasked with attempting to crack the Usyk code is trained by Peter Fury, the experienced strategist who famously guided Tyson Fury to his legendary 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
That night in Germany changed the heavyweight division forever. Now, Peter Fury prepares another elite combat athlete for one of the most technically demanding challenges in boxing, facing Oleksandr Usyk in a fully sanctioned professional bout.
Standing opposite Usyk will be Rico Verhoeven, one of the most dominant heavyweight strikers of the modern era.
Verhoeven, born in 1989, has built a formidable reputation across multiple combat disciplines. In professional kickboxing, he compiled 76 fights, winning 66 of them, including 21 by knockout, while suffering just 10 defeats, only two of those coming inside the distance. His reign as GLORY Heavyweight Champion saw him defend the title a record thirteen times, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s longest serving and most consistent champions.
Although primarily known for his kickboxing dominance, Verhoeven has also stepped into both boxing and mixed martial arts. In professional boxing, he holds a 1–0 record with his sole victory coming by knockout. In MMA competition, he is likewise undefeated at 1–0, also securing a stoppage win.
A professional combat athlete since 2004, Verhoeven now takes the biggest risk of his career transitioning fully into elite level boxing to challenge one of the most technically gifted champions of this generation.
The event will be promoted by Turki Alalshikh under The Ring, reinforcing Turki’s ongoing mission to globalise elite boxing at the highest level.
Over the past few years, Turki has delivered some of the sport’s most significant modern events staging major fights across Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His involvement has revived cross promotional clashes, brought heavyweight megafights to new audiences, and restored prestige to historic boxing platforms.
From Riyadh Season spectacles to world championship showdowns, Turki Alalshikh has consistently positioned boxing back at the forefront of global sport. This latest announcement adds yet another landmark moment to that legacy.
This will be a fully sanctioned professional boxing bout, adding further intrigue to an already extraordinary matchup. As of now, it remains unclear what Usyk’s plans are beyond this fight, with speculation continuing about potential future heavyweight unifications or crossover ventures.
Boxing King Media can exclusively report that Oleksandr Usyk vs Ricardo “Rico” Verhoeven, under the guidance of Peter Fury, will take place on May 23, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt – on the grounds of the historic Pyramids.
It marks the first time in boxing history that an event of this magnitude will take place at such an iconic Biblical era landmark.
From the official promotional material, it appears as if the bout will just be for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship rather than the other titles that Usyk holds.
Ancient history meets modern greatness with boxing at the heart of it all.
And once again, the Fury name stands opposite Oleksandr Usyk.
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