The boxing world was taken aback by the announcement of an unprecedented fight. Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated Ukrainian boxer, is set to defend his WBC world heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing champion, in a match that will be held in front of the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, titled 'Glory of Giza: Undefeated Icons', will take place on May 23 and has been confirmed by Turki Alalshikh and Ring Magazine. This matchup features two athletes who have not known defeat in their respective sports for a long time.

Usyk is coming into this fight with an impressive record, maintaining his undefeated status in professional boxing. Rico Verhoeven, on the other hand, has dominated the world of kickboxing for over a decade, during which he became the longest-reigning champion in GLORY's heavyweight category. He stepped down from the kickboxing title in November 2025 after an astounding 12 years and 4,418 days on top, boasting 13 successful title defenses. Verhoeven's last professional fight was in June of the previous year, where he secured a unanimous decision victory against Artem Vakhitov.

This match signifies not only a clash between two highly esteemed fighters from different combat sports but also represents a unique promotional event designed to excite fans and elevate the sport's profile. For Verhoeven, this will mark a return to professional boxing, a challenge that holds significant importance, as he aims to make his mark outside of kickboxing, while Usyk seeks to expand his legacy.