After much deliberation, the WBC have agreed to approve the heavyweight crossover bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven.
Usyk has not fought since last July, when he stopped Daniel Dubois in their rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Having achieved everything he set out to in boxing, the Ukrainian seemed close to hanging up his gloves. Instead, he began focusing on a potential fight with Deontay Wilder.
Despite that plan, a huge crossover fight was put on the table by Turki Alalshikh. Just a few days ago it was confirmed that ‘The Cat’ will face legendary kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in what is sure to be a major event.
WBC comments on Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven heavyweight title fight
The highly anticipated crossover bout is set to take place in front of the Pyramids of Giza on May 23rd and is already being called one of the most unique fights of 2025.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman initially expressed his support for the bout, clarifying that it would not be contested for the WBC heavyweight title.
He said to Sports Illustrated: “We will create an unbelievable belt featuring the elements of Pyramids of Egypt.
“At this moment there has not been discussion of a request to be a title defense and just a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
Despite Sulaiman’s initial comments, the WBC have now reversed their stance. On Sunday, they released a statement confirming that Usyk’s world heavyweight title will indeed be at stake against Verhoeven.
“After careful consideration, the WBC Board of Governors has ruled in favor of sanctioning WBC World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s voluntary title defense against legendary kickboxing champion, Rico Verhoeven.
“At its 63rd Annual Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, the WBC granted Champion Usyk a voluntary defense. Subsequently, the WBC received the petition to sanction Usyk vs Verhoeven fight as a voluntary defense.”
The WBC did not sanction Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou
The WBC’s decision to sanction this title fight comes after the controversial clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in 2023.
In his comments to Sports Illustrated, Sulaiman pointed out that the WBC supported Fury vs Ngannou, which turned out to be ‘very competitive’.
However, when those two heavyweights faced off, it was not for a championship.
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