This month, Oleksandr Usyk faces Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Usyk currently holds three of the four major heavyweight world titles, and has been permitted by the WBC to defend its belt against Verhoeven, despite the challenger having just one professional boxing bout to his name alongside a decorated kickboxing career
Though the IBF and WBA are yet to clarify their stance on the fight, the Ring Magazine belt has now also been confirmed to be on the line, according a recent social media post.
May is STACKED with MASSIVE title fights and headliners 🔥🍿
Which fight are you most looking forward to? 👀
Presented by @JEDCalendarpic.twitter.com/SrRmZVrw6N
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 1, 2026
Usyk became the Ring’s heavyweight champion back in 2022 when Tyson Fury relinquished the title and it was put on the line for the his first clash with Anthony Joshua. He has since retained it against ‘AJ’ in their rematch, as well as against Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury twice.
Previous holders of the belt include Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. Though few in the sport give unranked Verhoeven much of a chance in the May 23 main event of The Ring Magazine show, he has nonetheless put himself in unlikely contention to join that list of legends.
Usyk will hope that the IBF and WBA follow suit or, at least, allow him to compete in the fight without stripping him. Neither belt was present at the event’s initial press conference.
If he can remain unified champion, the 39-year-old said he will return to the more traditional path after Verhoeven and target the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, driven by the chance to become a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion after also holding all four belts at cruiserweight.
