Boxing Predictions: Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

Combat sports fans prepare for another crossover fight, but Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, 23rd May, is something different.

Usyk is the current world heavyweight boxing champion. Verhoeven is regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers of all time, holding the GLORY heavyweight title. The pair face off in a professional bout under boxing rules, contested over 12 rounds.

The online bookmakers offer a long list of pre-fight betting markets on Usyk vs Verhoeven. You can predict the winner or play one of the many specials available. There’s winning round, total rounds, method of victory, and much more. Study the stats, analyse the latest boxing betting odds, make your prediction and target a strong profit.

Boxing fans may not know too much about Rico Verhoeven, but the Dutchman is hoping to change all that on fight night.

The 37-year-old from Bergen op Zoom boasts a kickboxing record of 66 wins against 10 defeats. He has 21 knockout wins on his record, but won his most recent outing on the scorecards. He beat Artem Vakhitov over five rounds last summer.

Rico is a warrior known for setting and breaking records. In addition to his impressive kickboxing CV and world title, he holds Glory’s record with 14 wins in title bouts.

He also carries the most successful defences with 13, the most wins on 28, and the longest running winning streak at 27. Stepping into the boxing ring won’t faze a man who was born to fight.

Professional boxing is nothing new to Verhoeven either. He debuted in the square-circle against Janos Finfera in Germany way back in 2014. Rico beat Janos Finfera that evening, battering him into submission inside five rounds. That’s great, but the opponent ducked between the ropes with a 0-5-0 record. We won’t get too excited about that one.

Unlike his opponent, Oleksandr Usyk needs no introduction to a boxing audience. The Ukrainian is the sport’s biggest name.

He dominated the cruiserweight scene, unifying the division like David Haye and Evander Holyfield did, before moving up to make waves at heavyweight. Unlike Haye and Holyfield, Usyk collected all available belts in the top division.

After moving up, Oleksandr found his feet with wins over Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora. It was then time for a crack at the title, and he grabbed that opportunity with both hands.

Usyk dethroned Anthony Joshua in London and then defeated AJ in a rematch. He got rid of Daniel Dubois inside nine rounds before an appreciative audience in Poland.

In his last three bouts, Oleksandr has beaten Tyson Fury on points twice and then blasted Dynamite Dubois before the end of round five in a rematch.

His last victory was at Wembley Stadium in the summer of 2025. Almost a year out of the ring isn’t uncommon at this level, but at 39 years old, Usyk will be itching to get back under the bright lights and win again.

Having set the scene for this month’s blockbuster in Egypt, I’ll now guide you through the current boxing betting odds.

You can pick sides and bet today at box bookmakers, but please remember that boxing betting odds are subject to change. The price you see when placing your bet may differ from what was trading when I did my research and wrote the big-fight preview.

Those quotes are a fair reflection of the betting market, showing traders fully expect a champion boxer to beat a champion kickboxer.

Those boxing betting odds give you two options: you can back Usyk for a big stake, but that’s always risky. You can support the underdog off a small stake, but I don’t believe Verhoeven has the tools to beat Usyk under boxing rules.

Yes, it would be a different fight if they were to meet under kickboxing rules, but that’s not the case. We must keep it simple.

The method of victory is a boxing betting market I use regularly to target a winner at nice odds in a lopsided market. When playing the method of victory, bettors must predict both the winning fighter and how they’ll achieve the result: on points or by knockout.

An example of a bet may be Usyk to beat Verhoeven on points. Check out the odds below.

I’ll now settle on my final prediction for Usyk vs Verhoeven in Egypt. It will be a glamorous affair, but I am convinced Oleksandr will get the job done, and in good style.

I make this match a question of how Usyk wins, rather than if he wins. With little point backing him in the fight winner market at such cramped odds, I’ll return to the method of victory, a market that has served me so well over the years covering boxing.

Usyk by KO/TKO is the short-priced favourite, but I’m taking the traders on here. Usyk to win on points offers much better odds at online sports bookies, allowing bettors to keep their stakes and risks low. After a year on the sidelines, and on such a glamorous night, he’ll want to get a few rounds under his belt and show off his skills.

Back Usyk to dominate with the jab and claim a one-sided points victory.