After twelve years at the very top of kickboxing, a new chapter begins. On May 23, Rico Verhoeven will step into the boxing ring to face Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC Heavyweight World Title in ‘Glory in Giza’, live from Egypt and broadcast globally on DAZN. For Rico, this isn’t a random move. It’s the next logical challenge.
“I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish. But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away the hunger, it strengthened it.
I wasn’t looking for comfort, so I started looking for the highest challenge available in another world. Usyk is undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.”
Usyk enters the fight undefeated as a unified heavyweight champion, having previously beaten Tyson Fury twice and stopping Daniel Dubois by knockout. Now he meets a different kind of champion.
Rico dominated GLORY’s heavyweight division for over a decade, holding records for title fight wins, consecutive defenses, and one of the longest unbeaten streaks in the sport. After defending his title in June and choosing to vacate it later that year, he made it clear he was ready for something bigger. May 23 is that moment. A new arena. A new rule set. Same hunger. Further details on tickets and the undercard will follow soon. Undisputed versus undisputed.
