The sanctioning body has approved him as a competitor.
This is not an argument against Verhoeven’s athletic background. In kickboxing, his accomplishments are extensive. He held a version of the heavyweight championship for over a decade and defended it against top opponents, building a long reign in another fighting sport. He understands the pressure of championships and has spent years performing at the highest level he can.
The problem is that that history translates directly into qualifying for a heavyweight world title fight in boxing.
Usyk, now 39, has reached his position through defined steps within the sport. After moving from cruiserweight, he defeated older contenders and unified titles through high-profile fights. His most recent run included two victories over Tyson Fury in Riyadh before he stopped Daniel Dubois in five rounds to retain his title. Each of those fights featured heavyweights working the equivalent of boxing.
Verhoeven steps in without that approach. He’s been out of professional boxing for more than a decade and has never built up late rounds against modern heavyweights, gone through knockouts, or navigated the ranks under modern championship conditions. Even so, the WBC saw fit to fight for his belt.
The event itself explains part of the equation. This fight called “Glory in Giza” will take place in Egypt and broadcast worldwide on DAZN under the leadership of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. The scale of the stage, the historic setting, and the financial support position us as an event venue built for global reach rather than the usual protection from a line of competitors.
Heavyweight championships have traditionally progressed through the use of ranked opponents, finishers, and mandated mandatory defense. That system is never rigid, but it exists as a visible framework. Licensing a crossover competitor with one pay-per-view bout goes outside of that framework and adjusts the standard used.
Supporters of the decision will point to Verhoeven. He’s no novice in combat sports, and he’s not used to performing under heroic pressure. Physically, you fit the class, and commercially, you bring a different audience segment to the event. From an advertising perspective, the appeal is clear.
The punishment, however, is intended to reflect the nature of competition within the sport itself.
Usyk’s position complicates the picture. After consolidating and defending against established names, he works with the freedom that often comes to longtime champions. Heavyweight title holders historically select their opponents based on earnings and time once they clear their main field. A crossover opponent with limited boxing experience presents a different risk profile than a ranked opponent with a number of professional fights.
That fix doesn’t take away from the belt’s legitimacy, but it does show how much easier the approval process can be when the event’s scale and global reach enter the equation.
The heavyweight championship has long served as the symbolic center of boxing. Decisions about who competes reflect how sports weigh the merits of competition against commercial ambitions. In this case, the emphasis clearly allows access to the spectacle of the event.
Verhoeven found his position in kickboxing. Usyk has earned his due in boxing. On May 23 those jobs meet under the rules of the heavyweight championship, and the event could be successful in its own right.
Still, a fighter who hasn’t been in professional boxing for twelve years is allowed to challenge for the sport’s most visible prize. That fact alone tells you where the heavyweight title franchise stands right now.
