Usyk-Verhoeven winner to receive special WBC belt.
On Saturday, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will face Rico Verhoeven, a former kickboxing world champion who will be making only his second professional pugilistic appearance.
It’s a curious contest, to say the least. It’s one that has entirely divided opinion amongst the boxing populace, and it will likely serve as the strangest night in a career that has otherwise been indisputably great.
It is being billed as a meeting between two masters of their respective crafts, but what a lot of fans have struggled with is that one of those masters will be taking part in the other’s craft on the night.
Nonetheless, it will be taking place this week at the Pyramids of Giza. And as has become customary, the WBC have unveiled a unique reward on the line for the winner.
This award arrives in the form of the “Main Event” chain, a chain and pendant containing a total of 18.9 carats, including 520 emeralds and 833 stones.
The value of the chain is estimated at $40,000 and will be the property of the winner of the main event.
In addition to the chain, the winner of Usyk vs. Verhoeven will also receive the commemorative “King of the Nile” belt, a custom piece of hardware themed around the setting of the Egyptian night that was also created by the WBC.
This gives Verhoeven something else to win on the night (should he pull off the gigantic upset), as despite Usyk going into the ring with his three belts, it is understood that they won’t all be awarded to the Dutchman in the case of his victory.
In the end, it promises to be a very curious affair, one that carries a certain feel you just don’t experience very often.
The winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven will receive the WBC’s “Main Event” World Championship chain and pendant made with 18.9 carats of emeralds and diamonds 🤩
The chain and pendant has an estimated value of $40k and is awarded exclusively to world champions competing… pic.twitter.com/jmVM1HqgN9
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 20, 2026
Want to get the latest boxing news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
