Usyk and Verkhoven held their first stare-down at the Pyramids of Giza: video

19 May 23:47

Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk and Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven exchanged their first stares after arriving in Egypt. The athletes met face-to-face against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, where their title bout, Glory in Giza, is set to take place on May 23. This was reported by Ring Magazine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"

Usyk and Verhoeven’s first meeting in Egypt

Immediately upon arriving in Egypt, Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven took part in their first official stare-down.

The event took place near the famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx—this very location will be the venue for the fight.

FACE OFF IN FRONT OF THE PYRAMIDS 👑

Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven come face-to-face for the first time on fight week 👀

Glory in Giza | May 23 | LIVE on DAZN 🥊 pic.twitter.com/HzXyFvpiY3
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 19, 2026

The Usyk vs. Verhoeven bout is scheduled for May 23, 2026.

According to Ring Magazine, the boxing event will take place at an arena near the Pyramids of Giza, and the broadcast is set to air on DAZN.

What’s at stake in the Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight

The main event of the evening will be the heavyweight bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven.

According to Ring Magazine, the event is billed for the Ring, WBC, and WBA heavyweight titles. However, some Ukrainian sources note that only the WBC belt will be on the line in the fight, while other organizations may not have agreed to the defense of their titles.

Usyk enters the fight as one of the most decorated boxers of our time. He remains undefeated in the professional ring and is considered one of the best boxers regardless of weight class.

Who is Rico Verhoeven

Rico Verhoeven is a legendary Dutch kickboxer and multiple Glory heavyweight champion. He is considered one of the strongest kickboxers of the past decade.

For Verhoeven, the fight against Usyk will be a high-profile crossover challenge, as his primary experience lies in kickboxing. According to MMA Fighting, Verhoeven has significantly less experience in professional boxing than the Ukrainian.

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Usyk’s look at the stare-down

At the first stare-down, Usyk appeared in an outfit from the Ukrainian brand DAMIRLI. The main highlight of the outfit was the gold embroidery.

The brand’s press service explained that the gold embroidery symbolizes light, dignity, the sun, and unbreakable energy. The central element on the chest was a trident inscribed within a sunflower.

In this design, the sunflower is presented as a symbol of Ukraine, the land, life, and people reaching toward the light. The trident inside the sunflower emphasizes statehood, will, and identity.

The Symbolism of Usyk’s Outfit

The ornaments on Usyk’s costume are inspired by Ukrainian embroidery and elements of Cossack tradition. The design also incorporates geometric symbols that reinforce the national and sacred meaning of the image.

Particular attention was drawn to the belt featuring the symbol “IS HS NIKA”—an ancient sign of light’s victory over darkness.

This look became not only part of the fight’s promotion but also a way to showcase Ukrainian symbolism on the global sports stage.

Why the fight near the pyramids is called historic

The Usyk vs. Verhoeven bout will take place at one of the world’s most famous locations—near the Pyramids of Giza. For boxing, this is an unusual and spectacular arena, making the event not just a sporting event but also a cultural spectacle.

MMA Fighting calls Glory in Giza a landmark event, where the sporting contest will be combined with the visual grandeur of the historic location.