Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: the boxing-vs-kickboxing curiosity
Oleksandr Usyk against Rico Verhoeven on May 20, 2026 at the Giza Plateau. Egypt as a venue, boxing rules, and an opponent crossing over from the kickboxing world Verhoeven has dominated for a decade. Is it a real fight or a Saudi-spectacle exhibition? Depends who you ask. The card is real. Whether it's competitive is the question.
What Usyk brings
Undefeated as a pro boxer. 13 KOs. Twice-undisputed cruiserweight, current unified heavyweight champion. He beat Anthony Joshua twice and Tyson Fury once. Technically he's the best heavyweight on the planet right now and probably for the last three years.
The southpaw stance, the footwork, the ability to win by attrition over 12 rounds — none of that goes away in a one-night exhibition. What changes is the opponent.
What Verhoeven brings
61-11-3 in kickboxing. 53 KOs. Glory heavyweight champion for over a decade. The dude has fought professionally since 2002. His hands are real and his physical durability is unreal — he's taken kicks from people who would have ended an Olympic boxer's evening.
Under boxing rules, none of his kickboxing arsenal applies. No leg kicks, no knees, no elbows, no clinch work the way kickboxing allows. He's a heavyweight punching at a heavyweight champion under that heavyweight champion's rules. The reach is similar. The punch is real. But the technical gap is real too.
The honest prediction
Usyk wins by decision unless he gets caught early. Verhoeven's chance is in the first three rounds before Usyk reads him fully. After that, Usyk's volume and movement should accumulate scorecards.
This is the same dynamic as Mayweather vs Conor McGregor — a real boxer against a crossover striker who can punch but doesn't have 30 years of boxing-only repetition. McGregor surprised everyone with how long he lasted (10 rounds). Verhoeven could too. He's not winning unless he lands clean and early.
How to watch
The fight is on DAZN globally with PPV add-on in some markets. Buy directly through DAZN subscription rather than the third-party "stream sites" that crash three rounds in. Pay the £20-30. It's a one-off.
If you're hosting a fight night, the gear that actually matters is the screen and the sound. A large 4K TV (65"+ minimum) for any combat sport — you want to see the small movements. A soundbar with a subwoofer for the punches landing.
Bet smart, not big
If you're betting (legally, where allowed), Usyk by decision is the value play. Usyk by KO is the long-odds bet — he doesn't usually finish people early. Verhoeven on the moneyline at 4-1 or worse is overpaying for the "what if" lottery ticket.
I wouldn't put real money on this one. Crossover fights are unpredictable in ways that screw with the markets.
Training gear if it inspires you
If watching combat sports always makes you want to start training, the actually-useful starter kit isn't expensive. Hayabusa T3 boxing gloves (14oz) are the gym standard. 180-inch hand wraps — buy three pairs because you'll forget them. A freestanding heavy bag if you have space at home and won't make the downstairs neighbours hate you.
The fight gear gets bought. The training mostly doesn't happen. That's why your storage closet has a punching bag from 2019.
Two combat sports legends in a boxing ring. Watch it for the curiosity. Don't expect a war.
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