Oleksandr Usyk’s crossover boxing match against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven now has a full fight card around it, with the nine-fight show set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view.
The card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, with Usyk and Verhoeven expected to make their ring walks around 5 p.m. ET. Usyk carries a 24-0 record into the bout and has established himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet across his runs at cruiserweight and heavyweight. He unified the heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice and added the WBC belt to his collection with a split decision victory over Tyson Fury in 2024. Two of his last five opponents have been stopped, demonstrating that his technical brilliance is backed by genuine finishing power.
The undercard is stacked with genuine talent. Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic open the main card in what should be a compelling middleweight contest. Sheeraz is one of British boxing’s most celebrated young prospects, a power puncher who has generated significant attention on the domestic scene and is beginning to make noise on the international stage.
Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov meet in a super lightweight contest. Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. collide in a heavyweight matchup that features two genuine contenders in one of the sport’s most exciting weight classes.
The card also features Mizuki Hiruta against Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh taking on Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed against Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek versus Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal against Michael Kalyalya rounding out the nine-fight lineup.
The Pyramids of Giza setting adds a dimension to the event that no boxing card can replicate. The location has been used for large-scale entertainment and sporting events in recent years as Egypt has aggressively pursued high-profile international productions, but a unified heavyweight champion headlining a card against a kickboxing legend in the shadow of one of the world’s most iconic ancient structures is a genuinely unprecedented combination.
The full card is as follows: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov, Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr., Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed vs. Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek vs. Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal vs. Michael Kalyalya. The event takes place May 23 in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view.