Unified WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk takes on kickboxing sensation Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza next month. On that card, a future opponent for the Ukrainian could be determined.
Usyk will defend the WBC belt when he takes on Verhoeven in Egypt. On the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic compete for the vacant WBO super-middleweight world title, whilst Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov clash in a bout to crown a WBA Regular welterweight champion.
In terms of the heavyweight picture, Cuba’s Frank Sanchez and the United States’ Richard Torrez Jr have a chance to impess on a big stage, with both men looking to earn a shot at the heavyweight throne.
Sanchez-Torrez is a long-awaited IBF final eliminator, meaning that the victor will be installed as Usyk’s mandatory challenger and thus be ordered for a fight with the Ukrainian, who could face being stripped of his IBF world title if he does not agree to defend his belt against the winner. The unified champion has not mentioned either man in his three-fight plan before retirement.
Unlike the WBC, neither the IBF or the WBA have confirmed that they will allow Usyk to defend their belts against 1-0 boxer Verhoeven, meaning he could be stripped of the titles regardless. Should that be the case, the winner of Sanchez-Torrez may well be elevated to full IBF world champion, just as Daniel Dubois was back in 2024 shortly after defeating Filip Hrgovic in a final eliminator.
Usyk-Verhoeven will take place on Saturday, May 23, with a total of four world title contests on offer, as well as the intriguing showdown between Sanchez and Torrez Jr.