IBF makes ruling on Oleksandr Usyk’s title as fight with kickboxer Rico Verhoeven looms

The IBF has issued a ruling regarding Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight title ahead of his scheduled fight against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23, 2026, at the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Usyk, who holds the unified IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight titles, requested IBF permission to participate in the unsanctioned contest against Verhoeven, which the IBF addressed in a statement on Thursday. Following this voluntary WBC defence, Usyk will be required to undertake a WBC mandatory defence or risk being stripped of that belt.