World champion Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at his career heaviest for Saturday's title defence against Rico Verhoeven, but still gave up 25lb to the challenger. The Ukrainian great scaled 16st 9lb (106kg) - seven pounds heavier than his previous fight against Daniel Dubois. Despite being a huge favorite, Usyk emphasized he takes the "dangerous" Verhoeven seriously.

The fight at the foot of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt marks a career milestone for Usyk, who is unbeaten in 24 pro fights. Verhoeven, a kickboxer-turned-boxer, weighed 18st 7lb (117lb) for only his second professional boxing bout, 12 years after his first. The Dutchman expressed confidence but refused predictions.

Usyk's weight increase suggests he's carrying more power into the contest, planning a quick victory. The bout defends his WBA 'super' title, with the winner also claiming the WBC belt. Undercard features British prospects Hamzah Sheeraz and Jack Catterall vying for their respective world titles.