Just several days away from their highly anticipated showdown, undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (pictured) and kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven met face-to-face on Egyptian soil. The stage could not have been more imposing at the base of the ancient Pyramids of Giza, where the pair exchanged a glare before they share the ring Saturday, May 23rd. This first and final face-off in front of one of the most celebrated sites in human civilization,  marked the official start of a fight week for a clash of champions from different disciplines.

 

Usyk, the Ukrainian genius strategist, arrives as the only fighter in the modern era to achieve undisputed status in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. His record, which includes two wins over each of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois was built as a valiant road warrior.

 

Verhoeven, who has dedicated his life to combat sports since he was five years old, seeks to transition to elite boxing. Under the tutelage of Peter Fury, the uncle and former trainer of Tyson Fury, Verhoeven arrives as a huge underdog hoping to pull off the upset of the century.