Weigh-in results: Usyk records career-high weight but remains lighter than Verhoeven
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven (photo: DAZN Boxing)
How much the opponents weigh ahead of the showdown
Usyk showed the heaviest weight of his career – 105.8 kg. His previous career-high weight came before his last fight against British boxer Daniel Dubois in July last year, when he weighed in at 103.1 kg.
Meanwhile, Verhoeven appears to have decided to cut weight closer to the fight. While he had previously weighed around 125 kg, the King of Kickboxing came in at 117.3 kg a day before stepping into the ring. The Dutchman holds a significant physical advantage: he is not only heavier, but also 5 cm taller than the Ukrainian fighter.
Usyk vs. Verhoeven weigh-in results
- Oleksandr Usyk – 105.8 kg
- Rico Verhoeven – 117.3 kg
The fighters also held their final staredown before meeting in the ring. It lasted for more than a minute.
Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight: Date, venue and status
The blockbuster event will take place on Saturday, May 23, at a unique venue near the foot of the Giza pyramids in Egypt. The fighters are expected to enter the ring no earlier than 11:45 p.m. Kyiv time.
The Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven bout has officially been sanctioned by the World Boxing Council as a voluntary defense of the heavyweight world title. The organization specially designed a unique belt for the occasion, which will be awarded to the winner of the Battle in Giza.
For Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), this will be his first appearance in the ring since his July victory over Daniel Dubois, which made him the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Despite his superstar status in kickboxing, Verhoeven has very limited experience in professional boxing, having fought only one official bout (1-0, 1 KO).
In addition to the main event, the undercard will feature eight more fights. In particular, Ukrainian boxer Daniel Lapin will take on French fighter Benjamin Mendes Tani in a title bout, defending his IBF Intercontinental, WBA Continental and WBO International light heavyweight belts.
Both fighters made the light heavyweight limit (79.3 kg). Lapin weighed in at 78.8 kg, while Tani came in slightly heavier at 79.1 kg.
