Boxing match at Giza pyramids: Usyk defeats Verhoeven in 'Glory in Giza'

On May 23, 2026, the Giza Plateau hosted a major boxing event titled 'Glory in Giza,' featuring Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk against Dutch kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven. Usyk won by TKO in the 11th round. The event, organized by Matchroom Boxing and broadcast globally on DAZN, was part of a broader trend of using iconic archaeological sites as stages for global entertainment. Previous events at Giza included performances by Anyma (October 10, 2025) and Tiësto (December 19, 2025). The article, written by Gian Marco Sandri for Artribune, highlights the symbolic power of the location and questions why Italy, with sites like Pompeii, the Arena di Verona, and the Colosseum, does not host similar events. It notes Saudi investments and Turki Alalshikh's role, and mentions a potential Usyk event near Hagia Sophia in Istanbul in 2027.