Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) took to social media to confirm the next three fights of his professional boxing career.
Usyk said, “Listen, Rico… this is first.
“Second, it’s who win [out of] Wardley or Dubois.
“Third fight, it’s my friend greedy belly Tyson Fury.”
Usyk is a two weight, three-time undisputed champion, now aged 39. His next fight has caused a lot of controversy, as he has chosen to defend his WBC world heavyweight championship to a kickboxer, Rico Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO), who has only had one professional bout, 12 years ago.
The unlikely duo are going to be fighting on May 23 in the vicinity of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the only surviving one of seven ancient wonders of the world. The Riyadh Season event will be streamed live on DAZN PPV.
Two weeks prior, the only other world heavyweight champion, Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), defends his WBO belt to fellow Briton, Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs).
Usyk vacated the WBO belt in December 2025 when he opted not to fulfil his mandatory duties and defend against the WBO Interim champ, Wardley. The Ukrainian was recovering from an injury and looking to rest after back to back bouts with Tyson Fury in 2024 and big stadium show against Daniel Dubois in the summer of 2025.
Usyk’s desire to fight the winner of Wardley-Dubois may suggest that he is looking to emulate Muhammad Ali to become a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion, further securing his legacy in boxing.
