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Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on , at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt — the purpose-built open-air arena constructed for the Glory in Giza event. An estimated 20,000 seats have been built into the Giza plateau adjacent to the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Australian and East Asian fans face an early-Sunday wake-up; all other major territories get a prime-time Saturday evening event. The main card is live at 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST; ring walks are estimated at 5:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM BST.
US fans: the main card opens at 12:00 PM ET, but plan for the ring walk at approximately 5:00 PM ET. The main event typically comes 4–5 hours into the card. Tune in early to catch Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley, and others on the Usyk fight card. Wondering what time the Usyk fight is? The headline bout at this Pyramids of Giza fight is estimated at 9 PM UTC on May 23.
Usyk vs Verhoeven Start Time — All Timezones
Below are the confirmed main card and estimated ring walk times for all major territories. Based on a 21:00 UTC main event start — 12:00 PM ET main card, ring walks approximately 5–6 hours in.
| Region / City | Main Card Start | Ring Walks (est.) | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (ET) | 12:00 PM | ~5:00 PM | Saturday, May 23 |
| Los Angeles (PT) | 9:00 AM | ~2:00 PM | Saturday, May 23 |
| London (BST) | 5:00 PM | ~10:00 PM | Saturday, May 23 |
| Paris (CET/CEST) | 6:00 PM | ~11:00 PM | Saturday, May 23 |
| Dubai (GST) | 9:00 PM | ~2:00 AM | Sat/Sun |
| Mumbai (IST) | 9:30 PM | ~2:30 AM | Sat/Sun |
| Sydney (AEST) | 2:00 AM | ~7:00 AM | Sunday, May 24 |
| Tokyo (JST) | 1:00 AM | ~6:00 AM | Sunday, May 24 |
Times are estimates. Ring walk time depends on undercard duration and broadcast schedules. Check DAZN or broadcaster on fight day for exact scheduling.
When Are the Ring Walks?
Based on historical WBC heavyweight title fight scheduling, the Usyk vs Verhoeven ring walks are estimated at 9 PM UTC. Broken down by territory:
- ET: ~5:00 PM on
- PT: ~2:00 PM on
- BST: ~10:00 PM on
- AEST: ~7:00 AM on
- CET: ~11:00 PM on
DAZN and the promoters will confirm the exact ring walk time closer to fight night. Tune in from the main card start to catch the full undercard.
Venue: The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Khufu will dominate the skyline as Usyk walks to the ring — it is the first major boxing event staged directly at the Pyramids of Giza, a purpose-built outdoor arena unveiled by the Saudi General Entertainment Authority for this card. An estimated 20,000 in-person seats have been constructed on the Giza plateau under the patronage of Saudi sports executive Turki Al-Sheikh. The global broadcast audience is projected in the tens of millions. Glory in Giza is not a fight card. It is a cultural moment.
Training Camps Before the Fight
Both fighters entered structured pre-fight camps well ahead of May 23. Usyk's team — head coach Sergey Lapin with a long-standing S&C group that has worked every camp since his cruiserweight run — split the 12-week camp between Valencia and Kyiv (reported by K2 Promotions). Verhoeven's Team Rico ran a 14-week camp out of Bergen op Zoom with an altitude phase in Dubai (reported) — the extended duration a direct signal that boxing-rule adaptation demanded more preparation time than a standard camp window.
| Detail | Usyk | Verhoeven |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Sergey Lapin | Dennis Krauweel |
| Location | Valencia + Kyiv (reported) | Bergen op Zoom + Dubai (reported) |
| Duration | 12 weeks, early Feb 2026 | 14 weeks (extended) |
| Sparring | Serhii Bohachuk, Yaroslav Khartsyz (reported) | Imported boxing pros (illustrative) |
| Key Focus | Southpaw rhythm, range work | Boxing-rule adaptation, 12-rd pacing |
The 14-week Verhoeven camp is the longest reported preparation window for any crossover fighter targeting a world boxing title in recent history. It reflects Team Rico's clear-eyed assessment of the challenge. Whether the time invested narrows the experience gap is the central question fight night will answer. Full camp and style analysis: Prediction page → Training Camps section.
Full Glory in Giza Undercard
The undercard mixes heavyweight talent with British market draws and international prospects. Anticipated card (subject to official confirmation):
| Fighter A | Fighter B | Weight Class / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oleksandr Usyk 🇺🇦 | Rico Verhoeven 🇳🇱 | WBC Heavyweight — MAIN EVENT |
| Joe Parker 🇳🇿 | TBA | Heavyweight |
| Fabio Wardley 🇬🇧 | TBA | Heavyweight |
| Moses Itauma 🇬🇧 | TBA | Heavyweight Prospect |
| Frazer Clarke 🇬🇧 | TBA | Super Heavyweight |
| Additional bouts TBA. Full card subject to official announcement. | ||
Watch the Full Card Live
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- ESPN Boxing. Usyk vs Verhoeven fight date and location confirmed. Accessed April 24, 2026.
- DAZN Newsroom. Glory in Giza event schedule. Accessed April 24, 2026.
- The Ring Magazine. Glory in Giza undercard updates. Accessed April 24, 2026.
- Wikipedia. Oleksandr Usyk — biography and pro record. Accessed April 24, 2026.
- Wikipedia. Rico Verhoeven — GLORY heavyweight champion profile. Accessed April 24, 2026.