BOXING fans have expressed their fury following a second major U-turn on Oleksandr Usyk’s shock showdown with Rico Verhoeven.

It was announced this week that the sport’s pound-for-pound king would take on the legendary kickboxer in a pyramid punch-up in Egypt on May 23.

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Oleksandr Usyk will take on kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven in a pyramid punch-up on May 23Credit: RING MAGAZINE
 

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Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title will stunningly be on the lineCredit: REUTERS
Even more stunning than the announcement that Usyk would take on the Dutch destroyer was the news that his WBC heavyweight crown would be up for grabs.

That irked the sport’s purists, who lamented interim titleholder Agit Kabayel not getting his shot.

Those purists, however, were elated on Saturday when WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman claimed the Mexican sanctioning body’s belt WOULDN’T be up for grabs.

But less than 24 hours later, the WBC have announced the fight will be a VOLUNTARY title defence for the undefeated Ukrainian.

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A statement read: “After careful consideration, the WBC Board of Governors has ruled in favour 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 a petition to sanction the Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight as a voluntary defense.

“Champion Usyk’s has showcased incredible activity in recent years, facing and defeating champions in his division like Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice, and Daniel Dubois twice.

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The Home of Boxing in 2026

There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!

It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.

Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov while Oleksandr Usyk takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven.
Conor Benn features for the first time since making the switch to Zuffa Boxing and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.

Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.

Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.

A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.

Here’s all the big fights coming up…

February

Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN

March

Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
Sat 21 – George Liddard vs Tyler Denny – British & Commonwealth Middleweight title – DAZN
Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV

April

Sat 4 – Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora – DAZN PPV
Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
Sat 11 – Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis – Netflix
Sat 18 – Callum Smith vs David Morrell – DAZN
Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
Sat 25 – Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather
Sat 25 – Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka – DAZN

May

Sat 9 – Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois – WBO title – DAZN
Sat 9 – Zurdo Ramirez vs David Benavidez – WBA & WBO Cruiserweight titles – Prime Video
Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN

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“He did all of that while maintaining his undefeated record.

“In reaching its approval decision, the WBC Board of Governors considered Champion Usyk’s activity, which is unprecedented, especially in the heavyweight division.”

Fight fans flocked to social media to express their outrage at the WBC’s decision to sanction the fight as a title defence for Usyk.

One wrote on X: “Absolutely embarrassing.”

Another said: “This is a complete circus!

“Why are you making such fools of yourselves?”

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WBC chief Mauricio Sulaiman claimed Usyk vs Verhoeven wouldn’t be for their heavyweight titleCredit: REUTERS
“Usyk can do anything, but adding the WBC title belt is pure greed.”

And another said: “You guys have zero shame.”

One remarked: “F***ing embarrassing.”

Another chimed in: “Hang your heads in shame.”

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Usyk’s clash with Verhoeven will be his first outing since his fifth-round KO of Dubois at Wembley last July.

The fight will be Verhoeven’s first boxing match in nearly 12 YEARS, which he won via a second-round knockout.