Oleksandr Usyk’s clash with Kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven is in danger of changing location from the Pyramids of Giza, due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Undoubtedly Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt caught the boxing world off-guard, but should it have?
Ever since Turki Al-Sheikh and SELA entered the sport, the unexpected has turned into the norm.
From mega undisputed title fights and stacked undercards, to a rumoured event at Alcatraz and a three fight event in Times Square, New York, the sport has had a bit of everything.
Few more have benefitted from their entrance to the sport than Oleksandr Usyk.
Back to back victories against Tyson Fury, followed by a knockout win over Daniel Dubois have ranked the Ukrainian as the sports pound for pound number one.
Many believe if anyone has earnt the right to have a fun fight, it is Usyk.
The three time undisputed champion will face kickboxing king Verhoeven in an Egyptian spectacle live on DAZN.
However, the ground-breaking event scheduled for May 23 is in risk of a location change.
Conflicts occurring in the middle east involving neighboring countries to Egypt have caused the country to be categorised as a ‘Level 2’ travel risk.
The United States advise tourists travelling to the are to exercise increased caution due to terrorism, crime and health.
Team Oleksandr Usyk told Ukrainian publication Suspline Sport that they are “100% looking at plan B”.
Usyk remains focused on training, stating: “I don’t think about it at all”.
“I know I have to train, and if something happens, the team tells me, and I’m not nervous”.
“I just pray and that’s it”.
You could argue there is no one more equipped to block out external worry than the Ukrainian, who has been representing his country on a global scale during their conflicts with Russia.
What plan B looks like is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure is that Ring Magazine events tend to deliver no matter what location they are set.
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