Oleksandr Usyk to face kickboxing legend as shock fight announced at stunning venue

Oleksandr Usyk’s return to the ring has been confirmed.

The heavyweight superstar will face former kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on May 23 for the WBC heavyweight title.

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Usyk’s bout against Verhoeven will take place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

It will also be just the second fight in Verhoeven’s professional boxing career.

The Dutch star’s first professional boxing bout came in April 2014, where he knocked out Janos Finfera in the second round.

Although he lacks experience in boxing, Verhoeven enters the ring with one of the greatest kickboxing careers of all-time.

The 36-year-old holds the record in kickboxing promotion GLORY for the most wins in title bouts (14), the most consecutive title defences (13), the most wins (28) and the longest winning streak, which stood at 27 fights in a row.

His last bout as a kickboxer was last November, where he beat two-time GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov by unanimous decision.

Verhoeven retired from kickboxing with an absurd record of 66 wins and 10 defeats.

But he is soon to face the most difficult task of his glittering combat sports career, as he attempts to become the first man to defeat Usyk in the paid ranks.

Even though the Ukrainian enters the bout as an overwhelming favourite, Usyk won’t be resting on his laurels when the opening bell sounds.

“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport,” Usyk said.

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“Rico is one of them – a powerful athlete and a great champin.

“Being a champion isn’t just about belts. It’s about years of hard work, discipline and belief.

“I respect his journey, he’s truly the King of Kickboxing. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings.

“I’m ready and really looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming!”

As for Verhoeven, the opportunity to take on the toughest test possible was one he simply could not pass up.

“I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven said.

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“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away the hunger, it strengthened it.

“I wasn’t looking for comfort, so I started looking for the highest challenge available in another world. Usyk is the undisputed in boxing.

“That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed. The best facing the best.”

Usyk’s date against Verhoeven marks his first bout since he stopped Daniel Dubois at Wembley last June.