WBA Permits Usyk to Defend 'Super' Heavyweight Title Against Verhoeven
Oleksandr Usyk (left) has secured 15 of his 24 professional wins by stoppage.
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has authorized Oleksandr Usyk to defend his 'Super' heavyweight championship against Rico Verhoeven on 23 May, subject to specific terms and conditions.
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk, aged 39, is set to face former Glory kickboxing world champion Rico Verhoeven at the historic pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
While the World Boxing Council (WBC) had previously confirmed that Usyk's title would be contested, there was uncertainty regarding whether his WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts would also be at stake.
"Should Usyk emerge victorious, the bout will officially count as a successful title defence," the WBA stated.
"However, the title itself will not be at stake for Verhoeven, as he is currently not ranked by the sanctioning body.
"If the champion were to lose, the WBA championship committee would then review his status and determine the next course of action regarding the heavyweight championship."
The IBF has also granted permission for Usyk to participate in the fight, although Verhoeven's IBF belt will not be contested.
"If Usyk loses on May 23, 2026, the IBF Heavyweight title will be declared vacant immediately," the IBF declared.
Furthermore, the IBF indicated that if Usyk retains his title, a mandatory challenger will be ordered within 180 days.
Usyk has previously defended his choice to fight Verhoeven, asserting his right to select opponents freely, having already defeated Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois twice.
To date, Usyk remains undefeated in 24 professional bouts and has held the undisputed championship on three occasions—twice at heavyweight and once at cruiserweight.
In addition to his professional achievements, Usyk earned Olympic gold for Ukraine at the 2012 London Games.
Verhoeven, 37, is highly regarded in the kickboxing world but has only one professional boxing match on record, which took place in 2014.
The WBA noted that Verhoeven would become eligible for its heavyweight rankings if he becomes the first fighter to defeat Usyk.
- Boxing schedule and results 2026
- Watch every Born to Brawl episode
More Boxing from the BBC
Notifications, social media and more with
