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- May 21, 2026
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CAIRO, EGYPT - MAY 22: Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Rico Verhoeven (right) Weigh In ahead of their WBC World Heavyweight Title fight tomorrow night, at the Grand Egyptian Museum on May 22, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oleksandr Usyk will return later TODAY (Sat. May 23, 2026) to defend his WBC Heavyweight title against former pro kickboxing world champion, Rico Verhoeven, at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, and will be streaming live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV).
To stream / watch it live online via DAZN click here.
Usyk was last seen knocking out Daniel Duboisfor the second time last summer, once again solidifying himself as the king of the boxing big men. While there were other potential rematches out there for “The Cat,” he opted for a fresh matchup against one of the most lethal kick boxers in the history of the sport. Speaking of which, Verhoeven, has not been in active competition since defeating Artem Vakhitov at Glory 100 in June 2025, upping his win streak to 22 in a row.
Many readers check in before, during and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, as the main card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on DAZN PPV. Feel free to leave a comment (or several) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
In the co-main event of the evening, Hamzah Sheeraz will face off against Alem Begic for the vacant WBO Super Middleweight title. In the other featured title fight, Jack Catterall will do battle against Shakhram Giyasov for WBO Welterweight title.
USYK VS. VERHOEVEN DAZN PPV QUICK RESULTS:
Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven
168 lbs.: Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic – Sheeraz wins via second-round knockout
147 lbs.: Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov – Catterall wins via unanimous decision
Heavyweight: Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr. – Sanchez wins via second-round knockout – HIGHLIGHTS!
115 lbs.: Mizuki Hiruta vs Mai Soliman – Hiruta wins via unanimous decision
175 lbs.: Daniel Lapin vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani – Tani wins via fourth-round TKO
200 lbs.: Basem Mamdouh vs Jamar Talley – Talley wins via second-round knockout
135 lbs.: Sultan Al-Mohamed vs. Dedy Imprax – Al-Mohamed wins via first-round knockout
200 lbs.: Mahmoud Mobark vs Ali Ssurunkuma – Mobark wins via unanimous decision
147 lbs.: Omar Hikal vs Michael Kalyalya – Hikal wins via third-round knockout
USYK VS. VERHOEVEN DAZN PPV PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Round 1:
Rico lands a big right hand to begin. Usyk circling. Rico with a big height advantage. Rico rushing in aggressively, needs to be careful. Nice jab lands for Usyk and Rico bullies him to the corner. Double jab from Rico, they clinch. Body shot from Rico. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 2:
Usyk pumps the double jab. Uppercut from Usyk, blocked. Nice body shot from Rico. Nice right hand lands from Rico, then Usyk goes to the body. Two uppercuts land for Usyk and Rico attacks up top. Rico once again bullies the champ up to the corner. They clinch. Verhoeven staying busy on his feet. Close round. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 3:
Usyk working his jab early. Rico clinches. Rico is warned for using his forearm. Rico continues to bully Usyk. Usyk lands a nice one-two combo. Usyk with right hand, then a left and you can hear the thud. Rico continues to push forward. Usyk is a bit more offensive this round. Usyk goes to the body, then up top. Nice overhand right from the champ. 10-9 Usyk
Round 4:
Rico is one again putting on the pressure. Rico is throwing big bombs, now attacking the body with a flurry of strikes. Rico is looking very good here, or is Usyk playing with his food? Usyk steps on the gas nad lands a big right hand. Usyk now pushing forward with a shot to the body, another and then a big right hand. Usyk lands a big uppercut and he is starting to find a rhythm. Big right hand from Rico and then an over hand right lands for Rico before he eats an uppercut. Mouthpiece comes out for Rico. 10-9 Usyk
Round 5:
Usyk is starting to find his groove but Rico isn’t backing down. Rico pushed forward and walks through a couple of the champ’s punches to get in for some dirty boxing. Usyk with a shot to the body and a nice uppercut. Rico still marching forward. 10-9 Usyk
Round 6:
Usyk seems a bit more relaxed, Rico still being the aggressor. Rico is still moving well halfway through this fight. Usyk is now the one stalking, pumping the jab. Rico trying to circle, Usyk cuts him off with a shot to the body. Verhoeven does look a bit more tired here. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 7:
Verhoeven once again takes the center quickly. Looping right hand lands for Rico, Usyk needs to do a bit more. Nice left hand clips the chin for Usyk. Solid right hand lands for Rico. Bit right hands lands for the challenger and he is starting to get a bit more comfortable now. Usyk is trying to fire off some combos, nothing lands. Another right hands lands for Rico and that one bother Usyk. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 8:
They clinch, Usyk with a shot to the body as they break. a big right hands lands for Rico, then another and a huge shot to the body has Usyk rattled. Rico on the verge of a massive upset. Usyk needs a knockout now. Good right hand from Usyk snap’s Rico’s head back. Big uppercut lands for Usky, but Rico eats it and starts wining bombs. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 9:
Snapping jab lands for Usyk. Rico is still pushing forward and lands a big right hand, then a huge shot to the body. Rico is looking amazing. Did Usyk not take this camp serious? Rico landing sohts to the body and the seem to be hurting the champ. Rico pumping the jab, connects and snaps the champ’s head back. 10-9 Verhoeven
Round 10:
Rico marching forward, they exchange and Usyk complains of an elbow landing. Rico leaning on Usyk. They clinch and Usyk lands to the body. Rico is working the body. Usyk lands aleft hand, Uppercut lands for Usyk, then left hook. Usyk coming alive. Big left hand lands for Usyk and Rico ends the round with a big right hand. 10-9 Usyk
Round 11:
USYK VS. VERHOEVEN DAZN PPV HIGHLIGHTS:
STUNNING RING WALK AT THE PYRAMIDS
Oleksandr Usyk makes his entrance for the Rico Verhoeven fight
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZNpic.twitter.com/zcBGQl9AQq
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
Rico Verhoeven makes his ring walk
Buy USYK vs RICO HERE –>https://t.co/FoiaUucafv#UsykRico | Live now on DAZN | @RingMagazinepic.twitter.com/DmWQIaF1Cm
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 23, 2026
Hamzah Sheeraz STOPS Alem Begic
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 23, 2026
Jack Catterall has been dominant through eight rounds, outlanding Shakhram Giyasov 133-50, according to CompuBox.
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
WHAT. A. SHOT.
A brutal KO from Frank Sanchez
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | Live NOW on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
Not good for the state of American heavyweights!
Frank Sanchez BEATS Richard Torrez
NAsTY KOpic.twitter.com/MIBeqFtwD9
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) May 23, 2026
WHAT A SPECTACLE
Night falls upon the Pyramids of Giza ahead of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
FIRST BACK FIP CELLY AT THE AT THE PYRAMIDS
Benjamin Mendes Tani has defeated Daniel Lapin
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 23, 2026
Jamar Talley is LIKE THAT
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 23, 2026
SICKENING BODY SHOT
Sultan Almohammed moves to 4-0 with a knockout victory over Dedy Imprax
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
Body shots will make cowards of us all
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 23, 2026
DEBUT VICTORY
Omar Hikal kicks off his pro career with a knockout win over Michael Kalyalya in Egypt
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
From the Pyramids to the ring
An iconic backdrop for a historic clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven
Glory in Giza | May 23rd | LIVE on DAZN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 23, 2026
For more boxing news and notes click here.
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