Oleksandr Usyk title clash at Pyramids proves there are no limits, says kickboxer Rico Verhoeven
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Rico Verhoeven poses for a photo during the launch event for his fight against Oleksandr Usyk on May 20.
PHOTO: REUTERS
CAIRO – Rico Verhoeven says that his leap from kickboxing to taking on Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight boxing title, against the stunning backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, proves that there are no longer any boundaries in martial sports.
Ukrainian Usyk will put his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight belt on the line against the Dutchman on May 23, in what will be the first fight for the undisputed world champion since he beat Britain’s Daniel Dubois in London in July 2025.
“(This) showcases that there are no limits to what is possible – so that means within fighting and different sports, top dogs within different sports facing each other and also within every possible location,” Verhoeven, 37, told Reuters on May 20.
“This is the craziest location, or at least one of the craziest locations, you can have an event. So yeah, I think the impact is amazing. It’s such a historic place and it brings so much history with it.”
Verhoeven was the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion for over 10 years. But he has fought only one previous professional boxing bout, which he won by knockout in 2014.
The Dutchman, who appeared at the pre-fight press conference on May 20 wearing a T-shirt of Egypt’s most prestigious football club Al-Ahly, announced his exit from kickboxing in November 2025 after 76 fights and 66 wins.
Usyk, who holds the IBF (International Boxing Federation), WBA (World Boxing Association) and WBC titles after vacating the WBO (World Boxing Organisation) belt, agreed that fighting at the UNESCO World Heritage Site was a “great idea”.
“This is important, not only for me. This is important for all boxing, all people and Egypt,” the 39-year-old told Reuters. “It’s the first time that we’re here.
“I think, after this fight, a lot of people will look (and say), ‘Oh, it’s possible, maybe organise a fight in Egypt for the Pyramids, or maybe in Paris’.”
The WBC will award a specially themed belt to the winner of the May 23 fight, president Mauricio Sulaiman told Reuters.
“This is a very unique, special belt that we call the King of the Nile belt. It is a special trophy for the winner of the fight,” he added. REUTERS
