Oleksandr Usyk prepares to defend his titles against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in an unprecedented world-title bout. Despite Verhoeven's single professional boxing match, the 36-year-old hopes to pull off one of boxing's greatest upsets by defeating the unbeaten two-weight, three-time undisputed champion in Egypt this weekend.

Verhoeven believes his unique background provides an advantage Usyk hasn't encountered. "It will be a whole different approach," he states, bringing skills from a different discipline. Having transitioned to boxing at 36, Verhoeven aims to showcase his development and potentially become a unified world champion in just his second boxing match.

Usyk remains focused on performance in the ring. "My language will be in the ring," states the Ukrainian champion who defeated Daniel Dubois last July. With two of his three world titles on the line at the foot of Egypt's Pyramids, the champion plans to secure victory whenever opportunity arises, while promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledges the "impossible mountain to climb."