A major combat sports crossover is on deck for May 23, when kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven steps into the ring against unbeaten boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Verhoeven revealed the date during a recent press conference and said the matchup will come with the largest payday he has ever received.
That alone tells you how big this event is being positioned. Usyk is one of the most technically polished heavyweights in the world, and any outsider jumping into that kind of assignment is taking on more than a paycheck — he is betting his reputation against an elite champion with no losses on his record.
Verhoeven said he will put on boxing gloves and face Usyk in what he described as a massive challenge, while declining to disclose the exact purse. Still, he made clear the financial side is unprecedented for him, saying only that he has never earned this much for a fight.
From an American fight media perspective, the intrigue is obvious: this is the kind of style-clash event that pulls in fans beyond the usual boxing audience. Verhoeven has long been recognized as one of kickboxing’s top heavyweights, but boxing at Usyk’s level is a different problem entirely. For Verhoeven, this is about proving whether his stand-up pedigree can translate under pure boxing rules. For Usyk, it is about handling the spectacle without letting a dangerous and physically imposing opponent turn the night into chaos.
Verhoeven also said he is in a fight house for a 12-week camp, with his schedule limited to training, eating, recovery, and sleep. That level of isolation suggests he understands exactly what this opportunity demands.
If the buildup continues, the biggest question heading into May 23 will be whether Verhoeven can make this competitive early — or whether Usyk’s experience and discipline take over once the opening rounds settle in.