Oleksandr Usyk’s Next Move Feels Like the Beginning of the End
Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title against longtime GLORY kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza, Egypt, in an event titled “Glory in Giza.”
The bout was announced by Turki Alalshikh and Ring Magazine as an undisputed-versus-undisputed crossover, with Verhoeven stepping back into professional boxing for the first time since 2014.
Alalshikh stated, “It is not fun, it is a dangerous fight,” in defense of matching the heavyweight champion against a 1-0 kickboxer for a WBC title defense.
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Voluntary Window
Usyk holds three versions of the heavyweight championship and is currently in a voluntary defense period. That window had been expected to produce a fight with Deontay Wilder.
Wilder’s decision to move forward with his previously planned bout against Derek Chisora effectively closed that route, unless Usyk chooses to vacate belts to avoid upcoming mandatory obligations.
As outlined by WBN, Agit Kabayel stands next in line. Murat Gassiev or Moses Itauma could follow after another voluntary allowance before IBF and WBO mandatories return to the forefront.
Kabayel now faces the real possibility of being left behind, much like Joseph Parker once waited at the top of the WBO rankings only to see his opportunity evaporate.
The structure of the division remains intact, and the contender line is active, but Usyk has chosen to step outside it.
Control Over Titles
Holding three belts provides leverage that few heavyweights in history have possessed simultaneously.
The Verhoeven selection shows Usyk is prioritizing control over obligation. The urgency to satisfy the queue appears secondary to controlling his own timetable.
This is not a criticism. At 39, with wins over Mairis Briedis, Gassiev, Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice, and Daniel Dubois twice, Usyk has already completed the historical checklist at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
At this stage, the focus is no longer proving anything — it is managing time and chasing specific historical targets.
The Endgame Is Visible
One plausible route sees Usyk defeat Verhoeven and then target the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, a bout that would likely receive sanctioning approval given the undisputed implications.
Victory there would position Usyk as a three-time undisputed champion, joining Terence Crawford in rare territory. That scenario would allow him to leave the division on his terms before the full mandatory cycle closes around him.
The Verhoeven decision makes the direction clear.
With three titles secured and contenders waiting, the move points toward career control over belt consolidation.
If this sequence plays out, the Giza event will not be remembered as a spectacle — it will be remembered as the moment Usyk chose his exit strategy over clearing the division for a third time.
