Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Headlines Huge Pyramids of Giza Fight Card in Egypt

Forget the arguments about rankings and sanctioning bodies for a minute. Saturday night at the Pyramids of Giza is one of those events that people are either going to love or absolutely hate, but everybody in boxing is talking about it.

Oleksandr Usyk defending the WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing king Rico Verhoeven sounds like something made up on a boxing forum at 3am, yet here we are. The backdrop is ridiculous, the crossover angle has split opinion all week, and DAZN PPV have gone all-in on the spectacle.

And honestly? Even hardcore boxing fans pretending they’re above it will still end up watching.

Main Event

Oleksandr Usyk (24-0-0) vs Rico Verhoeven (1-0-0) – WBC World Heavyweight Title, 12 rounds

This is either a bizarre circus fight or a genuinely fascinating combat sports event depending on who you ask. Probably both.

Usyk remains unbeaten and still operates on a different level technically to almost every heavyweight on the planet. He made elite fighters look slow, predictable and exhausted. That doesn’t suddenly stop being true because the venue looks like a movie set.

But Verhoeven is not some random celebrity dragged in for headlines. He’s one of the greatest kickboxers of his era, a massive heavyweight athlete and someone who has taken this camp seriously under Peter Fury.

The big question is whether any of that matters once the bell goes. Boxing is cruel that way. Timing, rhythm and distance at elite level can humble world-class fighters from other sports very quickly.

Still, there’s a reason this has become such a huge talking point. The location, the crossover appeal and the sheer weirdness of seeing Usyk walk out beside the pyramids against “The King of Kickboxing” has dragged attention from well outside normal boxing circles.

If Verhoeven lands clean and makes it competitive early, social media is going to lose its mind.

Co-Main / Key Fights

Jack Catterall (32-2-0) vs Shakhram Giyasov (17-0-0) – Welterweight, 12 rounds

Lost slightly underneath the heavyweight madness is a genuinely high-level fight between Catterall and unbeaten Uzbek contender Giyasov.

Catterall moves up to welterweight after years operating near the top at 140, while Giyasov comes in unbeaten and technically very sharp. He’s awkward, disciplined and not the kind of fighter you look brilliant against unless you’re fully switched on.

This could end up being one for proper boxing purists. Lots of feints, position battles and moments where one mistake swings a round.

Frank Sanchez (25-1-0) vs Richard Torrez Jr (14-0-0) – Heavyweight, 12 rounds

Really good heavyweight matchup here.

Sanchez has the experience and slickness, while Torrez brings aggression and awkward pressure that can force mistakes out of technically cleaner fighters. Torrez has looked exciting so far as a pro, but Sanchez is comfortably the toughest and smartest opponent he’s faced.

If Torrez walks through this one, the hype around him is only going to get louder.

Other Title Fights

Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1) vs Alem Begic (29-0-1) – Vacant WBO World Super Middleweight Title, 12 rounds

This feels like a huge opportunity for Sheeraz. He’s been talked about as a future world-level fighter for a while and now gets the chance to claim a vacant WBO title against unbeaten Bosnian contender Begic.

Sheeraz has looked stronger every time he’s moved through the weights and his size at super middleweight could become a serious problem for people if he settles properly into the division.

Begic arrives unbeaten too though, so this is not some soft route to a belt.

Mizuki Hiruta (10-0-0) vs Mai Soliman (10-1-0) – WBO World Super Flyweight Title, 10×2 rounds

Hiruta puts her WBO title on the line against Egyptian challenger Soliman in front of what should be a lively local crowd. Soliman will likely try to push the pace early and make this uncomfortable, while Hiruta’s cleaner boxing and composure could end up deciding things over the distance.

John Duggan is listed as supervisor for the bout.

Non-Title Undercard

Basem Mamdouh (10-2-0) faces unbeaten American Jamar Talley (6-0-0) in cruiserweight action.

Sultan Almohammed (3-0-0) continues his professional run against Indonesia’s Dedy Imprax (2-4-0).

Omar Hikal makes his professional debut against Ali Sserunkuma (2-3-1).

Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya also debuts on the card against Michael Kalyalya (3-4-2).

Some boxing events are built around pure sporting merit. This one is built around spectacle, curiosity and seeing whether something completely unexpected can actually happen under the lights beside one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.

And if Verhoeven somehow pushes Usyk harder than expected, the internet may not recover for weeks.

Video Stream from both camps