The World Boxing Council (WBC) has sanctioned the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven as a voluntary title defense by the Ukrainian. The organization announced this on its social media.
Oleksandr Usyk, who is the current holder of the WBC, WBA, IBF heavyweight titles, will hold his next fight on May 23, 2026. The Ukrainian's opponent will be Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. The fight will take place in Egypt against the backdrop of the Giza pyramids.
First, the WBC denied the statement that the fight between Usyk and Verhoeven would be a title fight.