CAIRO - Rico Verhoeven is set to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC heavyweight title at the Pyramids of Giza, a matchup the Dutch kickboxing legend says proves there are no longer any boundaries in martial sports.
Usyk, the undisputed champion holding the IBF, WBA, and WBC belts, last fought and beat Daniel Dubois in London in July. Saturday’s bout is the first title defense since that victory.
“This showcases that there are no limits to what is possible,” Verhoeven told Reuters. “Top dogs within different sports facing each other, and also within every possible location.”
Verhoeven, who was the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion for 12 years, has fought only one previous professional boxing bout, which he won by knockout 12 years ago.
The winner will receive a specially themed “King of the Nile Belt” from the WBC.