Boxing
Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven confirmed for the WBC title fight
Nevertheless, the sanctioning authority approved him as a challenger.
This is not an argument against Verhoeven’s athletic past. His achievements in kickboxing are extensive. For more than a decade, he held some version of the heavyweight championship and defended it against elite opponents, building a long reign in another combat sport. He understands the pressure of a championship and has performed at the highest level available to him over the years.
The question is whether this story translates directly into qualifying for the world heavyweight boxing champion title.
Usyk, now 39, has achieved his position through specific steps in the sport. After moving up from cruiserweight, he defeated established challengers and unified the titles in high-level fights. His most recent winning streak included two wins over Tyson Fury in Riyad, before he stopped Daniel Dubois within five rounds to retain his champion status. Each of these fights was against ranked heavyweights operating within boxing’s competitive order.
Verhoeven steps in without this path. He was absent from professional boxing for over a decade and did not build final rounds against newfangled heavyweights, did not advance through eliminators or move up the ranking ladder in a newfangled championship setting. Despite this, the WBC deemed him suitable to fight for the belt.
The event itself explains part of the calculation. The fight, tagged “Glory in Giza”, will take place in Egypt and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN under the leadership of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. The scale of staging, historical setting and financial support position it as a destination event built with international reach in mind, rather than a routine defense from a line of challengers.
The heavyweight championship has traditionally been run with ranked challengers, eliminators, and a structured mandatory defense. This system was never inflexible, but existed as a apparent framework. Approving a crossover fighter with a single fight in professional boxing goes beyond this framework and adapts the standard used.
Supporters of the decision will cite Verhoeven’s credentials. He has no shortage of experience in combat sports and is no stranger to performing under the pressure of championships. Physically he fits the division and commercially he attracts a different segment of the audience to the event. From a promotional point of view, the appeal is obvious.
However, sanctions are intended to reflect the competitive position within the sport itself.
Usyk’s position complicates the picture. Having united and defended against established names, he operates with the freedom that often accompanies long-reigning champions. Heavyweight title holders historically select opponents based on the prize and the time they have cleared their main field. An opponent with narrow boxing experience has a different risk profile than a ranked fighter with dozens of professional fights under his belt.
This adjustment does not erase the legality of the belt, but it does indicate how malleable the approval process can become when the scale of events and global reach are at stake.
The heavyweight championship has long functioned as the symbolic center of boxing. Decisions about who competes for it reflect how the sport weighs competitive order against commercial ambitions. In this case, the emphasis clearly favors the scope and spectacular nature of the event.
Verhoeven made his mark in kickboxing. Usyk has earned his place in boxing. On May 23, these careers will converge under the rules of the heavyweight championship, and the event can succeed on its own terms.
Despite this, a fighter who had been absent from professional boxing for twelve years was allowed to fight for the most apparent prize in the sport. This fact alone tells you where the heavyweight title permits are currently at.
“I have to say it would be nice to keep Canelo,” Sheeraz told The Ring. “If I become world champion on May 23, I will stand in the way of him becoming undisputed.”
Sheeraz recently said he still wants a fight with Canelo and believes becoming champion could put him directly in line if Alvarez wants to reclaim his titles upon his return.
The fight against Begic is seen as a major opener for Sheeraz. Begic is 39 years elderly and much less established than other names in the division, which creates a significant opportunity for Sheeraz to capture the belt and break into a much larger commercial arena.
Once titleholder status is attached to his name, Sheeraz will become a more attractive option for major event sponsors looking to stage a high-profile comeback for Alvarez. He brings an undefeated record, market value in the UK, a weight of 168 pounds and a title that can be used in a wider story.
This doesn’t guarantee there will be a fight next, but the path is clear. If Sheeraz wins in Egypt, he will go from contender talk to championship business overnight.
For Sheeraz, May 23 may not mean winning the vacant belt so much as securing a spot at the biggest table in the division.
Alvarez is expected to return later this year from elbow surgery, and his next move will be closely watched around the league. With several belt holders in place, promoters now have plenty of options, but the newly crowned Sheeraz would immediately enter the conversation if he can handle Begic.
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