The image of a champion became a separate topic at the press conference: Usyk did not take off his hat until the end
In the capital of the United Kingdom, the official media campaign has started ahead of the high-profile fight between titleholder Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the live broadcast of the press conference.
Also read: The verdict is in: The Ring officially changed Fury’s status after the fight in London
The first meeting in London: calm before the storm
Today, April 14, Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) and Dutch representative Rico Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO) held their debut press conference.
The Ukrainian champion appeared before the public in his signature hat, holding the WBC heavyweight title belt.
Despite the prestigious trophy in the hands of the Ukrainian, the fight sanctioned by the World Boxing Council will not have title defense status.
After finishing the dialogue with journalists, the athletes held a traditional stare-down.
The event took place in a notably respectful atmosphere: the opponents communicated peacefully, avoiding provocations or conflict situations.
View this post on Instagram
Why Usyk chose a kickboxer: the champion’s position
The choice of opponent has sparked considerable discussion in the sports community, particularly due to pressure from contender Agit Kabayel, who insists on a mandatory defense.
However, Oleksandr Usyk clearly justified his decision by expressing a desire to try something new.
“People ask me about choosing Rico, as he is not a professional boxer. But he is a wonderful person, and I really want this confrontation. I want to finally do what interests me, not what circumstances demand,” Usyk said.
“Before, I always followed the rules and fought with whoever I had to. Now it’s time for my own desires,” the Ukrainian explained.
Chances of victory: opinions of experts and the opponent
Rico Verhoeven, who is training under Peter Fury, expressed confidence in his abilities.
The Dutchman noted that while the transition to traditional boxing is challenging, he has experience sparring with elite fighters like Dillian Whyte.
In Rico’s opinion, his technique, borrowed from kickboxing, could become an unpleasant surprise for Usyk.
At the same time, legendary Lennox Lewis remains skeptical about anyone’s chances of defeating the Ukrainian, considering Usyk unbeatable at this moment. A similar confidence was previously expressed by Ukrainian heavyweight Vladyslav Syrenko.
Date and venue of the fight
The big boxing night, with a fully formed undercard, will take place on May 23, 2026.
The venue chosen is the historic location of Giza in Egypt.
For Oleksandr Usyk, this ring appearance will be his first since the triumphant title defense against Daniel Dubois in July 2025.
Verhoeven last boxed back in 2014, when he secured a stoppage victory over Janos Finfera.
The full undercard for the super fight Usyk – Verhoeven has been announced earlier.
