Huge fight set to be announced for Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven undercard as deal is agreed

British star Jack Catterall is set to fight Shakhram Giyasov on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven.

Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against legendary kickboxer Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza as part of an Egyptian spectacle on May 23.

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The 39-year-old hasn’t fought since obliterating Daniel Dubois in a four-belt shootout at Wembley Stadium last July.

Usyk has named Verhoeven on a three-man list of fights, which also includes a trilogy against Tyson Fury and the winner of Dubois vs Fabio Wardley, before hanging up the gloves.

However, the undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight superstar also reopened the door to a clash with Agit Kabayel this month.

Nonetheless, his clash against Verhoeven comes first, and although members of the boxing fraternity have labelled the bout as farcical, the card is shaping up to deliver.

Jack the Lad

According to BoxingScene, Lancashire’s Catterall has agreed a deal to battle Giyasov inside the squared circle.

The pair are set to have it out for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ welterweight title.

ESPN has said that Catterall vs Giyasov is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Catterall established his name as a serious contender at welterweight (147lbs) with a brutal stoppage win over Ekow Essuman last November to snatch the WBO ‘global’ belt.

The fight on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn came four months after the 32-year-old earned a technical decision victory over Harlem Eubank in Manchester.

Catterall has lost just twice in 34 professional fights, with 14 of his 32 victories coming by knockout.

Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

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Getty

His first defeat was a controversial points loss to Josh Taylor in 2022, which he later avenged, and a narrow upset to Arnold Barboza Jr.

He can now put himself in the driving seat to fight for a world title at 147lbs, having previously expressed his desire to face WBO titleholder Devin Haney this year as the No. 1 contender.

But he faces arguably the toughest test of his career in undefeated Uzbekistan fighter Giyasov.

Giyasov, also 32, is undefeated in 17 fights and knocked out Franco Maximiliano Ocampo in the fourth round of his last fight in April 2025.

The Olympic silver medallist is currently the mandatory challenger to Rolly Romero’s WBA strap.

But the latter is being lined up to face WBO champion Haney despite turbulent negotiations.

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s  boxing schedule.