Death, taxes and sanctioning bodies changing their minds as they see fit.
Less than 24 hours after declaring Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven as a ‘WBC Special Event’, the sanctioning body’s Board of Governors have agreed to have its heavyweight title at stake for the May 23 novelty fight. Sunday’s ruling was born of a previous agreement between Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs), and the WBC during last year’s annual convention, where the unbeaten Ukrainian southpaw was granted a voluntary defense.
“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,” the sanctioning body revealed in a public ruling on Sunday. “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 v. Herhoeven fight as a voluntary defense.”
That last part comes shortly after WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman stated that his office had yet to field a request for the crossover bout to serve as a sanctioned title fight. In fairness, Sulaiman – in his longtime role as president – works alongside the Board of Governors and doesn’t actually hold a board member seat.
Still, Sunday’s ruling leaves both the sanctioning body and Usyk subject to sharp criticism over Verhoeven receiving a title shot. The legendary kickboxer from the Netherlands has just one pro boxing match to his name, and it came more than a decade ago.
It also spits in the face of more deserving challengers patiently (and several, impatiently) waiting in line for their crack at the most storied prize in boxing’s rich history.
Usyk is the recognized lineal, RING, WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion. To date, neither the WBA nor IBF titles are at stake. Whether or not Ring Magazine – whose promotional team will present the event from Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza – will recognize its championship at stake is a decision for the publication to confirm.
Agit Kabayel is the WBC interim titlist and confirmed as the next mandatory challenger and has done his best to bide his time while awaiting the call for a title consolidation clash. He turned away Damian Knyba in a 3rd round knockout atop a long overdue homecoming show on January 10 in Oberhausen, Germany.
Regarding the news of Usyk next facing Verhoeven, the undefeated 33-year-old took the high road and offered the most optimistic take on the situation.
“It’s official. Just one fight to go,” Kabayel noted on his verified Instagram account. “Then we’re next. Blow up the comments!”
The same ruling that permitted a voluntary defense for Usyk also confirmed that the three-time undisputed champion in two weight divisions would next have to face Kabayel—without exception.
At the time, it was believed that Usyk would next face former WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder, 44-4-1 (43 KOs). Those plans fell apart somewhere along the way, as Wilder will first – or instead – face Derek Chisora atop an April 4 Misfits Pro (MF Pro) card in London.
Those who are not quite ready or willing to burn Usyk at the stake point to his run to becoming heavyweight king. His last six fights have all come against Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois – earning two wins each over the trio of British heavyweights.
Usyk defeated Joshua via narrow decision in their September 2021 meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight title. He repeated the feat eleven months later in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
From there came, in order:
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A 9th round knockout of Dubois in August 2023;
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A May 2024 split decision over Fury in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century;
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A more convincing win over Fury in their December 2024 rematch, also in Riyadh;
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And a repeat knockout victory over Dubois last July 19 in London to regain the IBF belt and become a two-time undisputed heavyweight king.
“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,” noted the WBC’s ruling. “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.”
Usyk previously held the undisputed cruiserweight championship. He dethroned three unbeaten 200lbs titlists to earn the status, all three bouts which took place in his opponent’s home country. During his heavyweight run, the closest he’s enjoyed to a home game was his Aug. 2023 victory over Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland, which boasts a massive Ukrainian population.
Still, he’s the recognized champion of boxing’s glamour division.
Fury was the lineal and WBC heavyweight champion when he entered an October 2023 novelty fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who made his pro boxing debut. Similar to the WBC’s previous declaration for Usyk-Verhoeven, the sanctioning body supported Fury-Ngannou as an event, but not as a sanctioned title fight.
The difference between then and now – Fury didn’t actually file a request for a traditional WBC title defense. Usyk did, and the sanctioning body took into consideration Verhoeven’s record-breaking championship run in kickboxing in lending its full support here.
“Rico has been competing professionally at an elite kickboxing level since 2005. Over the course of two decades while maintaining that very highest level of competition, he has established himself as arguably one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxing champions of all time. Rico’s professional journey has been exceptional, which includes headlining and selling out major stadium arenas in front of 30,000 and 40,000 spectators worldwide.
“At 36 years of age, he competed in 76 professional kickboxing fights. Rico just recently vacated the Glory Kickboxing Heavyweight title going undefeated in 11 years. The transition from kickboxing to boxing is not unprecedented. Many Muay Thai athletes have successfully crossed over into professional boxing and competed for WBC titles early in their boxing careers. This WBC decision is within the WBC rules and regulations.”
