Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, in an exclusive comment for Suspilne Sport, spoke about the situation with preparations for the fight against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, scheduled for May.
The fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven has been officially sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The fight will have the status of a voluntary title defense by the Ukrainian and is scheduled to take place on May 23, 2026 in Egypt, against the backdrop of the Giza pyramids.
This will be Usyk's first appearance in the ring since July 2025, when he defeated Briton Daniel Dubois to become the absolute world champion for the second time. Since then, the Ukrainian has lost the title, making the WBO belt vacant.