Jake Paul recently proposed a fight between kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. The social media personality and professional boxer floated the matchup idea in recent comments.
Paul, who has built his boxing career around high-profile crossover fights, sees potential in pairing the Dutch kickboxing star with the Cameroonian knockout artist. Both fighters have competed in combat sports at the highest level, though in different disciplines.
MVP MMA co-owner Jake Paul has been very vocal with his thoughts that Verhoeven was the biggest winner from the fight and is now the best boxer in the world.
“Rico vs Francis MVP / MVP MMA,” Paul said in a post on X.
Francis Ngannou Reacts
Ngannou responded with an emoji, connoting that he would be interested in that clash.
Verhoeven holds multiple Glory Kickboxing heavyweight titles and is widely regarded as one of the top kickboxers in the world. Ngannou transitioned from the UFC to professional boxing in 2023, facing Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in high-profile bouts.
The proposed matchup would represent another crossover event in combat sports, a format Paul has championed throughout his promotional ventures. No official discussions or negotiations have been reported between the camps of either fighter.
Oleksandr Usyk retained his unified heavyweight championship, but it wasn’t without a tough fight from Rico Verhoeven and a controversial finish at the end of the 11th round.
From the beginning of the fight, Verhoeven tried to push the pace, going toe-to-toe with Usyk and exchanging rounds throughout the bout. Usyk looked to use his jab and land from distance, while Verhoeven tried to get inside and land combinations.
Usyk got Verhoeven in some trouble during the fourth round, crushing Verhoeven with a solid uppercut. Verhoeven, however, recovered and, after a quiet fifth round, came out firing again during round six.
Verhoeven traded with Usyk throughout rounds seven through nine, with Verhoeven continuing to push the pace and try to trap Usyk in the corner.
Oleksandr Usyk Stops Rico Verhoeven In 11 Rounds To Retain WBA and WBC Titles
While the fight was a dead heat heading into the championship rounds, it was there that Usyk’s experience showed. Usyk took back control in a big way during round 10.
Then, in round 11, Usyk knocked Verhoeven down with a big uppercut. Verhoeven recovered; however, Usyk wallopped him with a number of follow-up shots. The referee stepped in and, despite protests from the former GLORY Kickboxing champion, Usyk retained his WBA and WBC titles.
This was Usyk’s first fight since becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, reclaiming the IBF title at the time with a knockout of Daniel Dubois in July.
This was Verhoeven’s first boxing match since knocking out Janos Finfera 12 years ago. This is also Verhoeven’s first loss in combat sports since losing to Andrey Gerasimchuk in kickboxing in 2015.
Rico Verhoeven weighed in at 258.7 pounds for Saturday’s Glory in Giza boxing event, more than 25 pounds heavier than Oleksandr Usyk who came in at 233.3 for their WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt.
Usyk being the smaller man on the scale is consistent with his career trajectory — he rose to prominence as a cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight and scoring victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois. He defeated Dubois via fifth-round knockout in July 2025. Fury had an even larger weight advantage over Usyk when Usyk beat him.
Verhoeven competes in his first boxing bout since 2014, when he scored a second-round knockout over Janos Finfera. The longest-reigning champion in Glory Kickboxing history, he reigned as Glory’s kickboxing champion for over 11 years before parting ways with the promotion as a free agent following a title defense over Artem Vakhitov last June.
Full Glory in Giza weigh-in results:
Main Card (DAZN PPV, 1 p.m. ET)
Oleksandr Usyk (233.3) vs. Rico Verhoeven (258.7)
Hamzah Sheeraz (167.9) vs. Alem Begic (166.9)
Jack Catterall (146.8) vs. Shakhram Giyasov (145.7)
Frank Sanchez (240.4) vs. Richard Torrez Jr. (229.5)
Mizuki Hiruta (114.7) vs. Mai Soliman (114)
Daniel Lapin (173.8) vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani (174.4)
Preliminary Card (11 a.m. ET)
Basem Mamdouh (192.8) vs. Jamar Talley (197.7)
Sultan Almohammed (127.8) vs. Deny Impart (125.7)
Mahmoud Moubarek (138.9) vs. Ali Sserunkuma (141.5)
Rico Verhoeven says he is bringing an approach to boxing that Oleksandr Usyk has never faced, as the kickboxing great prepares to challenge the undisputed heavyweight champion Saturday at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Verhoeven spoke at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, framing his lack of traditional boxing experience as a potential asset.
“I’m bringing something he hasn’t seen before because he’s only faced boxers. They’ve been boxing their whole life, and I haven’t. It’s just like a whole different approach. Like you said, it’s God’s will, so let’s see on Saturday. Let the best man win.”
He also addressed the late-career transition from kickboxing to boxing.
“I was kickboxing since I was 6 years old, and I was 36 when I started transitioning into boxing, it was at the end of last year. Of course, I was boxing, but I was boxing to kickbox. For Peter, it was a lot of fun because he was training me to box and kickbox, but now he’s training me to box, so he’s having a lot of fun. I think we did quite a good job, and I’m going to showcase that to the world on Saturday.”
Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn acknowledged the gap in class while refusing to fully rule out an upset.
“The fight on paper is an impossible mountain to climb for Rico Verhoeven. No, I’ll re-phrase that: for the normal man. Oleksandr Usyk is one of the greatest not just fighters of our generation, but greatest examples to any young fighter, to any young athlete in terms of the work ethic and the mindset. Tomorrow night, this guy, this giant of a man whose arms are like the normal man’s thighs, has an opportunity to forge one of the greatest upsets in the history of boxing. He’s coming in not just to fight the best in the division; he’s coming in to fight the pound-for-pound No. 1. But I’ll tell you what: If there was ever anything dramatic, ever anything strange to happen, it’s going to happen at the foot of the Pyramids in Egypt.”
Usyk is listed as a minus-5000 favorite. Verhoeven has one professional boxing bout on his record — a 2014 second-round knockout of Janos Finfera.
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.
Oleksandr Usyk has named his price for a third fight with Tyson Fury, and it isn’t cheap. The unified heavyweight champion told The Stomping Ground in London that “Greedy Belly” will need to back up his talk with a nine-zero payday.
“Listen. Greedy belly. Give me billion dollars. You take trilogy,” Usyk said.
The number is a direct shot at Fury’s own history of floating massive purse demands for big fights. Usyk delivered it with a smile, but the message landed: if Fury wants a third crack, he can fund it himself.
Usyk Unbothered by the “Blown-Up Cruiserweight” Talk
Fury’s camp has leaned on the “blown-up cruiserweight” line throughout both fight weeks. Usyk, now 24-0 with 15 knockouts and holding The Ring, WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, doesn’t appear to be losing sleep over it.
“Maybe I don’t know. Listen, it’s now it’s my opponent, but I not feel bad. Okay. Listen, I happy,” Usyk said.
The composure tracks with how he’s handled every round of Fury-camp shots, before, during, and after their two fights in Riyadh.
Backing Anthony Joshua to Beat “Greedy Belly”
The warmth Usyk showed toward Anthony Joshua, a man he’s also beaten twice, was the other headline. Joshua has been training alongside Usyk in camp, and the Ukrainian sees a future undisputed champion in him.
“AJ, it’s a future undisputed champion. My Bratton, you know Bratton? Bro, your brother, your bro.”
Asked directly who wins if Joshua and Fury finally share a ring, Usyk didn’t hedge.
“I don’t know who wins the fight. AJ. Really? Yes, of course. AJ win.”
The endorsement carries weight. Eddie Hearn has already confirmed a two-fight deal on the table for Joshua that includes a July warmup and Fury in November.
On Fury vs. Makhmudov
Fury returned from a 16-month layoff on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking a wide unanimous decision over Arslanbek Makhmudov on scores of 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109. Usyk watched the same fight most fans did, one where the finish never came.
“Tyson win. It’s a good. Listen, it’s win. It’s not lost. But maybe a lot of people want to do Tyson knock him out. I’m too.”
Fury used his post-fight mic time to call out Joshua for a Battle of Britain later this year. Joshua refused to step in the ring for the face-off and stared him down instead.
Style Points
The interview opened with Usyk getting a compliment on his outfit. The reply was pure Usyk.
Eddie Hearn thinks Rico Verhoeven needs to be “deluded” to believe he can beat Oleksandr Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, but he’s not ruling it out entirely. Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing at the Glory in Giza press event in Egypt, the Matchroom promoter gave a blunt but respectful assessment of Rico’s chances.
“He’s a big character, he’s a big lump, and he can really punch,” Hearn said. “He’s got hands like shovels. But it’s like you’ve got to be deluded to think you can pull this off.”
Tom Aspinall Vouches for Rico’s Power
Hearn revealed that UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who trains regularly with Verhoeven, gave him a private assessment of the kickboxing star’s abilities.
“When I spoke to Tom Aspinall, he trains with Rico a lot and he’s like, ‘Mate, let me tell you something. I’m not saying he has the skills to compete with Usyk, but my god, can he punch, and he’s strong as an ox,’” Hearn said. “He’s got Peter Fury in the corner, he’s got a lot of good brains around him.”
Aspinall’s endorsement carries weight given that he operates across both combat sports worlds. The UFC champion’s testimony focused on raw physical attributes rather than technical boxing ability, which aligns with the general view that Rico’s path to victory runs through his size and power advantage rather than skill.
The Ngannou Precedent
Hearn acknowledged his own track record of underestimating crossover fighters. He pointed to the Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury fight as a cautionary example.
“I didn’t think Francis Ngannou had a chance against Tyson Fury, and I thought he beat him in that fight,” Hearn said. “It’s an unconventional style that could cause some problems to the guy that’s mastered all styles in Alexander Usyk.”
That comparison matters. Ngannou, with no professional boxing background, dropped Fury and pushed him to a contested split decision. Rico brings significantly more striking experience than Ngannou did, plus the advantage of training under Peter Fury, who has worked with heavyweight champions.
A Pyramid to Climb
Despite leaving the door open, Hearn’s overall verdict was clear.
“He’s got a pyramid to climb on May the 23rd and I’m not sure he can do it,” Hearn said. “But in this division, it’s probably the only division where something crazy could happen, because these are big guys that can really punch.”
Hearn also praised the scale of the event itself, calling it “vision on another level as a spectacle” after seeing the production specifications for the Pyramids venue. The card also features Hamzah Sheeraz in a world title fight and Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov.
Rico Verhoeven does not want anyone calling him a heavy underdog with nothing to lose. In an interview with Ring Magazine ahead of his WBC heavyweight title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk on May 23, the kickboxing champion made his intentions clear.
“There’s definitely something to lose. I’m not even thinking about losing. I’m going to win. And when I win, I’ll write history.”
“Just a Man With Two Arms and Two Legs”
Usyk carries one of boxing’s most intimidating reputations: unbeaten, undisputed at cruiserweight, and unified at heavyweight. Verhoeven is not interested in being intimidated.
“He’s like the unbeatable guy. What an opportunity I have to show that he’s not that unbeatable. For me, it’s just a man with two arms and two legs. I’m going to go out there and showcase who Rico Verhoeven is, the former undisputed kickboxing champion.”
He addressed the near-universal skepticism from the boxing world the same way: by ignoring it entirely.
“I don’t go off on anybody else’s opinion. I don’t think about it. Everybody has their right to their opinion. It’s just up to me to prove you wrong. That’s it.”
Pressure Is Not New
Some fighters in Verhoeven’s position would lean into the underdog framing. He rejected it outright.
“I’m not putting myself like, ‘I’m the big underdog, so there is nothing to lose.’ No.”
Verhoeven spent the better part of a decade as the man with the target on his back in kickboxing. He sees direct parallels with Usyk’s position at the top of heavyweight boxing.
“I put the pressure on me. He has the target on his back, he’s been having the target on his back for so many years. I had the same. I’ve been so used to the big lights, the sold-out arenas, all the media attention, the pictures, the interviews. I’m used to that pressure. I’m used to that because I’ve been doing it for the last decade.”
On fight night, he expects the size difference to play a decisive role. Verhoeven will enter the ring at roughly 125 kg, some 20 kilograms heavier than the champion.
“As soon as I clip him, he’s going to feel that, because it’s going to be at least a 20-kilo difference.”
Usyk vs. Verhoeven takes place May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, streaming live on DAZN.
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven came face to face Tuesday at the official launch press conference for “Glory in Giza,” their WBC heavyweight title fight set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine, will stream exclusively on DAZN.
Verhoeven’s team originated the crossover concept, pitching “undisputed vs. undisputed” to promoters. A fight with Anthony Joshua was initially lined up but fell through following a tragic accident. The Usyk matchup materialized shortly after. Actor Jason Statham is credited as one of the early backers of the crossover idea, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh ultimately greenlighting the event.
Usyk: Three Fights Left
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) said he chose this fight because he wanted to do something for himself for once, rather than what was expected of him. He confirmed he has three fights remaining in boxing: Verhoeven, then the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, then a third fight with Tyson Fury.
When asked about Fury potentially fighting Anthony Joshua instead, Usyk said he would “stay back and watch as a fan.” He picked Joshua as the “future undisputed champion” in that hypothetical. On Verhoeven’s knockout prediction, Usyk dismissed it flatly: “A bad prediction. We’ll see.” His promise for May 23: “Wonderful. Wonderful winner.”
Coach Yakob Chitsky said the team does not focus heavily on the opponent anymore. Usyk is at a level where the real challenge is maintaining an effective training process. His motivation now comes from training itself.
Rico: Upset the World
Verhoeven, the longtime GLORY kickboxing heavyweight champion, acknowledged he is a massive underdog but framed the fight as a chance to “upset the world and write history.” He argued he brings a different puzzle for Usyk: kickboxing angles Usyk has never encountered, combined with a significant size and weight advantage (roughly 125 kg, about 20 kg heavier than the champion).
Rico Verhoeven is relishing the opportunity to challenge Oleksandr Usyk 🌟
His predicted path to victory? A unanimous points decision. He called it ambitious but worth aiming for. He also stated that if he lands his best clean punch, Usyk goes down due to the weight difference.
Manager Kareem Aria said Verhoeven’s focus level is no different from any other fight. He has always been this driven, but acknowledged Rico must be “200% of himself” against the best heavyweight in the world.
Coach Peter Fury, who has worked with Verhoeven for about 15 years on boxing, confirmed Rico turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to take this fight. He is not coming for a paycheck. Fury called Usyk the best heavyweight in the world while insisting “anything can happen when that bell goes.”
The Face-Off
Former opponents Tony Bellew and Malik Scott provided analysis during the face-off. Both predicted Usyk “won’t move,” and neither fighter broke first. They were turned away simultaneously.
Bellew said the only viable strategy for Verhoeven is to “show no respect, throw the kitchen sink, get in early and don’t stop” with sustained pressure for the first three to four rounds. After Usyk adjusts, it’s over. Scott flagged Verhoeven’s wrestling and clinch game as a potential X-factor, noting Usyk does wrestling three times a week but has never truly been tested there.
Both agreed Verhoeven’s engine and conditioning are the biggest unknowns. He has never been tested at this level of duration and intensity in a boxing ring. On the “Buster Douglas” comparison, Bellew said an upset would be equally shocking but placed Verhoeven at roughly 10-15/1 odds, not 49/1 like Tyson was against Douglas.
Undercard
The May 23 card features multiple title fights. Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. serves as an IBF heavyweight eliminator with Usyk’s mandatory challenger on the line. Jack Catterall meets Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA regular welterweight belt.
Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine present Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: Glory in Giza, WBC heavyweight title fight, on May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event streams exclusively on DAZN.
THE PHARAOH 👑
Oleksandr Usyk defends his heavyweight throne against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt next month 🇪🇬
Their first press conference is live today on DAZN and The Ring's socials at 5pm UK / 12pm ET 📺
Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Ring Magazine announced the full eight-bout lineup for the historic event they are promoting.
The undefeated Usyk (24-0) has captured undisputed championships in two weight divisions during his professional career. The Olympic gold medalist enters fresh off six consecutive fights against three opponents, defeating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois twice each.
Verhoeven brings his longtime GLORY heavyweight kickboxing championship pedigree to the boxing ring. The Dutch fighter attempts to shock the combat sports world in his crossover bout against one of boxing’s elite champions.
Championship Bouts Lead Stacked Card
Hamzah Sheeraz battles Alem Begic for the vacant WBO middleweight title in the co-main event. Jack Catterall faces Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA regular welterweight title in the featured contest.
Frank Sanchez meets Richard Torrez Jr in a heavyweight clash. The card also features Mizuki Hiruta vs Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh vs Jamar Talley, Mahmoud Mobark vs Michael Kalyalya, and Omar Hikal vs Ali Ssurunkuma.
The event marks a rare crossover opportunity for Verhoeven, who dominated the kickboxing heavyweight division for years. Usyk seeks to continue his reign as one of boxing’s most accomplished champions across multiple weight classes.
