Usyk vs. Rico: 10 Things You Need to Know About This Heavyweight Clash
What’s the craziest venue for a boxing fight? In the history of this sport, there’s a good number of contenders: a bullring, a shopping center, Times Square, the Playboy Mansion. 12 years ago, an IBF featherweight title bout was held in the shipyard where the Titanic was built.
Nothing, however, beats the history that Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven are about to make. On Sunday (Manila time), Usyk and Rico will slug it out at the Giza Necropolis, home of the Great Pyramids and the majestic Sphinx.
The curious choice of battlefield is but one of many fascinating nuggets about this heavyweight clash. There’s a lot of controversy regarding the title to be defended, and one fighter might have already lost even before he enters the ring. And what’s this about a Hollywood actor getting involved?
Here are 10 things you need to know about Usyk vs. Rico.
#1: The Jason Statham of It All
It’s no secret that Jason Statham, star of the Fast & Furious and Transporter franchises, is a combat sports fan. In 2024, Statham reached out to Verhoeven when they were both in London, and the two struck a friendship.
Not long after that, Statham started talking to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, about getting Verhoeven in a boxing ring. With the Hollywood A-lister as Verhoeven’s wingman, Team Rico was able to connect with Alalshikh, eventually pitching the idea of a fight with Usyk. Good job, Mr. Statham.
#2: Why Usyk vs. Rico Is a Rare Boxing-Kickboxing Crossover
Here’s a polarizing fact about this bout: It features an elite boxer going up against a fighter who made his name in another combat sport. For over 20 years, Verhoeven’s bread and butter has been kickboxing, where he holds a 66-10 record (with 21 wins coming by way of knockout).
The gimmicky element is strong in this fight, and many pundits have not minced words in their criticism. In the March 10 edition of his “Neutral Corner” column, BoxingScene’s Tris Dixon had this to say: “How many times does it need to be said that boxing’s best chance of success is for the best to fight the best and to leave the circus to the clowns? Oh, but it’s in front of the Pyramids…”
#3: Usyk Doesn’t Care About the Critics
This isn’t the first time that Usyk (who is currently undefeated in 24 pro fights) has heard the naysayers chirping. The thing is, he doesn’t care about any of it.
“A lot of people say, why did you choose this and not a boxer?” the 6-foot-3 Ukrainian said at a news conference last month. “He [Verhoeven] is a great guy. He’s a dangerous guy.”
Then, emphatically pointing to himself, Usyk added: “Please, one time, I want to do what I want…A lot of the time, I do what needs [to be done]…I say, OK, OK, OK. Now, I do what I [want].”
#4: Verhoeven Is Defying the Odds, Too
If this fight is an expression of self-assertion for Usyk, it’s a huge test for Verhoeven outside his comfort zone. Though the Dutch combatant is better known for his stints in GLORY and K-1, he does have experience in the boxing ring. As a matter of fact, Verhoeven is undefeated in his boxing career!
There’s a caveat, though: Verhoeven has fought just one professional boxing fight, and it took place back in April 2014.
In the second round of a heavyweight bout scheduled for four, Verhoeven landed a solid right hand that knocked out Hungarian fighter Janos Finfera. Make of that what you wish.
#5: Why Some Heavyweight Titles Won’t Change Hands
Verhoeven, the clear underdog this Sunday, will be looking to score an upset victory. The question is, when is a win not a win?
Currently, Usyk is the holder of three world heavyweight titles.
As far as the WBA is concerned, an Usyk victory will count as a successful defense of their championship. A Verhoeven win, however, would not result in Verhoeven being crowned champion.
In the WBA’s own words, Verhoeven is “currently not ranked by the sanctioning body,” so he won’t be able to lay claim to Usyk’s WBA title even if he does win.
To make matters worse for the Dutchman, the IBF is of the same mindset. If Verhoeven scores a victory over Usyk, he won’t be named the new IBF world heavyweight champion. Rather, the title would be vacated.
#6: The One Belt That Verhoeven Can Win
As far as championship gold is concerned, the only thing that truly makes this fight worth it for Verhoeven is the fact that Usyk’s WBC title is on the line. Apparently, the WBC doesn’t mind that Verhoeven is coming over from the kickboxing world, and they’re perfectly fine with Usyk choosing him for a “voluntary defense.”
#7: There’s a Challenger Waiting for Usyk…
The WBC’s decision to sanction this fight has drawn flak within the boxing world, and there’s perhaps no one more disgruntled than Agit Kabayel. The German slugger, who is undefeated in 27 pro fights, was named Usyk’s mandatory challenger. Despite the fact that Kabayel has been the interim WBC heavyweight champion since February 2025, the WBC gave its blessing to Usyk choosing Verhoeven for his “voluntary defense.”
Frank Warren, Kabayel’s promoter, has threatened to take things to court if the WBC doesn’t book Usyk to fight his ward after the showdown against Verhoeven. “Kabayel’s number one in the WBC, and the fight goes on in Egypt between Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, and afterwards the WBC will have to order the mandatory, and if they don’t, we will sue them,” Warren said in a statement.
What if Verhoeven, not Usyk, comes out on top and claims the WBC belt? Would Kabayel keep the same energy? Your guess is as good as mine.
#8: The Car Crash That Changed Things
Speaking of fights that could have been, there were rumblings late last year that Verhoeven would be fighting a sensational heavyweight. Plot twist: His name wasn’t Usyk.
Anthony Joshua, the former unified champion who knocked out Jake Paul, was heavily rumored to be Verhoeven’s foe in a March 2026 bout. However, on December 29, 2025, AJ was involved in a car crash that occurred on an expressway in Nigeria. Sadly, this accident claimed the lives of Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and his S&C coach, Sina Ghami.
“The fight was gonna happen…AJ needed some time to resettle, get back to himself, and that was that,” Verhoeven told reporters this past April. That same month, Joshua signed a deal to take on his fellow Brit Tyson Fury, possibly in October or November this year.
#9: Usyk Is Down to His Last Three Fights
So now, we’ll have the pleasure of watching Usyk vs. Rico with the WBC heavyweight championship at stake. A word to the wise: Enjoy every bit of Usyk that you’ll get to watch, as he has already drawn up a wishlist for the final three fights of his career.
After taking on Verhoeven, Usyk wants to step into the ring with Daniel Dubois, who knocked out Fabio Wardley earlier this month to become the WBO heavyweight champ. Then, Usyk plans to write his swansong by going for a third win in his trilogy against Tyson Fury, a man that he has publicly called his “best friend.”
(Sorry, Agit Kabayel. You’re not on the list.)
#10: Verhoeven on Usyk: “He Will Go Down”
Let’s face it: Verhoeven is a fish out of water when he sets foot on the Western Desert this weekend. In his mind, though, there is one clear scenario.
“When I land my best punch on him, of course, he will go down,” Verhoeven said at last month’s news conference.
Usyk, who was sitting just a few feet away from him, had a short response: “We’ll see.”
On Sunday, Usyk and Rico will stand toe-to-toe at a place where pharaohs once roamed. Sitting courtside: the towering tributes to a cradle of civilization. Until further notice, it doesn’t get crazier than this.
Catch Usyk vs. Rico this Sunday (Manila time) on the DAZN app. Main card begins at 1:00 am; ringwalk for the Usyk vs. Rico main event is projected to start at 5:48 am.
Stay tuned to all-starmagazine.com for round-by-round coverage of the Usyk vs. Rico fight.
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