In recent years, boxing has flirted with crossover spectacles on more than one occasion. However, what’s set for 23 May 2026 promises to be the cherry on top. On that date, the Pyramids of Giza will host a WBC heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven. It’s a fight between the finest pound-for-pound boxer on the planet and the most decorated kickboxer in the history of the sport. It is billed as ‘Glory in Giza’, and the matchmaking seems super compelling to say the least.
In this preview, we’ll look at the Usyk vs Verhoeven betting odds, analyse paths to victory for both gladiators, explain how to watch it in the UK, and answer some frequently asked questions.
Usyk vs Verhoeven: Fight Details
- Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026
- Time: Main card from 7:00 pm BST; ring walks expected approximately 10:00 pm BST
- Location: Pyramids of Giza, Giza, Egypt
- Titles: WBC, IBF & The Ring Heavyweight World Championships (Usyk’s unified title defences)
- Broadcast: DAZN PPV (UK and worldwide)
This will be Usyk’s 3rd title defence since he defeated Tyson Fury in 2024. It’s only the 2nd pro boxing fight for Rico Verhoeven; however, his pedigree and accolades should leave no room for misinterpretation. He’s as dangerous as they come.
Usyk vs Verhoeven: Betting Odds
Below is a full breakdown of the available boxing odds for Usyk vs Verhoeven at 7bet UK. Please note: odds are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Always check for the latest prices and gamble responsibly. You can also set limits to help form healthier habits.
Winner
| Oleksandr Usyk | Rico Verhoeven |
| 1/20 | 15/2 |
It’s the most direct bet. Back either Usyk or Verhoeven to win the bout outright. It doesn’t matter how the victory comes – KO, TKO, ref stoppage or via the judges. Your only concern is that the fighter you put your money on prevails.
Usyk enters the Glory in Giza as the overwhelming favourite. This is in line with his undefeated track record in pro boxing and his status as the best P4P fighter in the world. Verhoeven’s odds are long, as expected, but they carry a small implied probability that reflects the one genuine wildcard in this matchup. A single, devastating right-hand could end things prematurely. He has, as we know, stopped heavyweight kickboxers for a living.
Round Total
| Market | Odds | Market | Odds |
| Over 4.5 | 5/7 | Under 4.5 | 1/1 |
The Round Total market invites you to predict whether the fight will last longer (Over) or shorter (Under) than a designated number of rounds. Usually, there are a handful of options for you to choose from.
As an example, we can use the 4.5 threshold. If you pick ‘Over 4.5’, you need the 5th round to start, at least. However, if you pick ‘Under 4.5’, you expect one of the athletes to handle business early. Usyk has finished 15 of his 24 pro fights inside the distance, although his biggest wins required the full 12 rounds. Against Verhoeven, the question is whether Usyk’s clinical body work and accumulative punching will grind the kickboxer down early? Or maybe Verhoeven’s conditioning and heavyweight power allow the fight to develop into the later rounds.
Method of Victory
| Method | Odds |
| Oleksandr Usyk by KO / TKO or Disqualification | 2/11 |
| Oleksandr Usyk by Decision or Technical Decision | 13/3 |
| Draw | 30/1 |
| Rico Verhoeven by KO / TKO or Disqualification | 13/1 |
| Rico Verhoeven by Decision or Technical Decision | 25/1 |
The Method of Victory market requires bettors to correctly identify both the outright winner of the contest and how the fight is going to end. Given Usyk’s angles and laser-accurate combos as well as titan-level defence, a decision win is historically his most common method against elite-level opposition. However, a KO stoppage in favour of the Ukrainian is considered the most likely outcome overall, according to implied probabilities. A Verhoeven KO win carries the shortest odds for the Dutchman.
Will the Fight Go the Distance?
| Yes | No |
| 17/4 | 2/15 |
One of the cleanest binary picks from the lot. If you decide to bet on this market, you need to pick ‘Yes’ if you believe the fight will head to the judges or ‘No’ if you think a KO/TKO or stoppage is in the cards. Usyk has gone the distance in his last four fights — against Joshua twice, Fury twice — each time winning comfortably on the scorecards. Yet, fighting against a less technically proficient opponent increases the likelihood of a more comfortable stoppage. This is why ‘No’ has the lower odds – higher implied probability.
Winner & Exact Round
This is the highest-risk, highest-reward option out there. The odds are longer, requiring the bettor to correctly identify both the winner and the exact round in which the bout ends.
Oleksandr Usyk – ‘The Cat’ (24-0, 15 KOs)
The argument for Oleksandr Usyk being the finest pound-for-pound boxer on the planet is not a controversial one. A lot of experts and fans would even agree that the 37-year-old Ukrainian southpaw is the GOAT.
An undisputed champ at cruiserweight, Usyk went up to heavyweights, claimed his first title in October of 2020 and never looked back. He’s dominating the division in a similar fashion, leaving no stone unturned and no opponent feeling safe.
‘The Cat’s’ style is a masterclass in technical southpaw. He has an almost hypnotic upper-body movement, is very good at countering with right jabs and always moves behind a high guard that acts as both a shield and a weapon. However, the strongest weapons in his arsenal are Ring IQ and technical preparation. He’s rarely put on the back foot, even in 12-round affairs.
While not a one-punch knockout artist, Usyk is capable of delivering sustained-pressure sombos and accumulates damage relentlessly across 12 rounds. Both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury — two of the most physically imposing heavyweights of their generation — found themselves unable to impose their size or power against him. To prepare for the event in Giza, the Ukrainian continues to train against himself, pushing through every session as if facing the most dangerous opponent he has ever encountered.
Oleksandr Usyk – Last 5 Fights
| Opponent | Date | Result |
| Daniel Dubois | 19 July 2025 | Win (TKO R5) – for the IBF Title |
| Tyson Fury (II) | 21 December 2024 | Win (UD) – Retained the Undisputed Title |
| Tyson Fury (I) | 18 May 2024 | Win (SD) – Retained the Undisputed Title |
| Daniel Dubois | 26 August 2023 | Win (KO R9) – Retained the Undisputed Title |
| Anthony Joshua (II) | 20 August 2022 | Win (SD) – Retained the Undisputed Title |
Rico Verhoeven – ‘The King of Kickboxing’ (1-0 boxing, 60-10 kickboxing)
There is no precedent for what Verhoeven is trying to do. He will be walking straight into the lion’s den, trying to capture a unified heavyweight world title fight for the WBC, IBF and The Ring championship with exactly one professional boxing bout on his record. And that very fight happened in 2014, when the Dutchman fought a journeyman named Janos Finfera. No fighter has ever challenged for the heavyweight championship of the world with less conventional boxing experience.
And yet, if you write him off, you’d be making quick and silly assumptions, because Verhoeven is a champion in combat sports. A pro athlete since 16, ‘King of Kickboxing’ has had sparring sessions with Tyson Fury and has been the No. 1-ranked heavyweight kickboxer in the world for around a decade. His GLORY record is impeccable – 13 consecutive title defences and a last professional loss suffered in 2015… That means Verhoeven is riding a 22-fight winning streak in kickboxing, and that’s a colossal feat on its own.
It’s not much use talking about his kickboxing style, since much of it won’t translate to a discipline where kicks are forbidden. However, a 6’5”, 265 lb orthodox puncher with enormous natural power seems like the combination you’d get by taking Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and blending them into one.
Regardless of Verhoeven’s track record, Usyk’s defensive boxing IQ, his ring generalship and his southpaw angles will present problems that no kickboxer’s preparation can fully replicate. Let’s wait and see how he squares up.
Rico Verhoeven – Boxing Record
| Opponent | Date | Result |
| Janos Finfera | 26 April 2014 | Win (KO R4) |
Tale of the Tape
| Oleksandr Usyk | Rico Verhoeven | |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Name | Rico Verhoeven |
| 37 | Age | 37 |
| The Cat | Nickname | The King of Kickboxing |
| 6′ 3″ / 190 cm | Height | 6′ 5″ / 196 cm |
| 78″ / 198 cm | Reach | 79″ / 200 cm |
| Southpaw | Stance | Orthodox |
| 24-0, 15 KOs (boxing) | Professional Record | 1-0, 1 KO (boxing) |
| 63% | KO Ratio (boxing) | 100% |
| Simferopol, Ukraine | Hometown | Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands |
| 2013 | Boxing Debut | 2014 |
| Anatoly Lomachenko | Trainer | Dennis Krauweel |
Usyk vs Verhoeven – Paths to Victory
While it seems like one of the most asymmetric matchups on paper, both men do have credible routes to victory. Here’s what each one must do on 23 May to claim victory.
How Can Usyk Win?
The Ukrainian champion’s pathway to success seems clearer of the two, and by a considerable margin at that.
His southpaw stance is uncomfortable for many orthodox opponents. Combine that with his rapid footwork and high-volume combo punching, and Verhoeven might have problems that even a champion of his calibre can’t overcome. In both Fury fights, Usyk neutralised a man with a six-inch height advantage through relentless lateral movement and brilliant inside work. Verhoeven presents a similar physical challenge.
The most efficient way for ‘the Cat’ to defend his belt may go through the body shots. Time and time again, Usyk has shown how relentless attacks on the body weaken his opponents (e.g., Joshua and Dubois). A kickboxer’s torso is conditioned primarily to absorb low kicks rather than sustained boxing combos. This may leave Verhoeven more susceptible to a strong body attack. Let’s see what masterclass the champ has in store for 23 May.
How Can Verhoeven Win?
While much narrower, the path to victory for Rico Verhoeven does exist. No surprises here – the Dutchman needs to get it done early. If the giant is lucky to land one or two right hands clearly (in the first 3-5 rounds), it can be all she wrote. Yet, in case that doesn’t happen, Usyk’s rhythm may take over, and Verhoeven’s lack of boxing-specific conditioning can be a huge issue.
A secondary strategy would rely on the use of his size and physical dominance. If it’s possible, he’ll need to impose his body in the clinch and disrupt the champion’s rhythm as early as possible. If the bout resembles a brawl rather than a technical contest, Verhoeven’s odds should be much better.
How to Watch Usyk vs Verhoeven in the UK?
If you want to see this unique boxing matchup live in the UK, you need to purchase PPV on DAZN. The main card is expected to begin at 7:00 PM BST, with the main event ring walks expected around 10:00 PM BST.
However, DAZN Ultimate subscribers receive PPV access at no additional cost, so check out the terms on DAZN’s website. If you’re subscribed, you can download the app to stream the event on Smart TVs, PCs, Apple devices, Android devices, Fire TV, and Roku.
FAQ
Is This a Legitimate World Title Fight?
Technically, yes. However, there’s still the matter of perspective and tradition to be discussed. The WBC sanctioned Verhoeven as a legitimate contender; however, their decision was widely criticised by ranked mandatory contenders.
Why was Rico Verhoeven Chosen for Usyk’s Title Defence?
Since the event is promoted under the Riyadh Season umbrella (backed by Turki Alalshikh), it carries a commercial spectacle value alongside conventional boxing. Verhoeven is the most recognisable (arguably) kickboxer in the world, so the crossover appeal is there.
What Happens to the Winner?
If Usyk wins, it’s almost certain that the next logical step in the heavyweight division points to the winner of the Fury vs Joshua event, which is scheduled for later in 2026. However, if Verhoeven wins, all previous predictions immediately become irrelevant.
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