Heavyweight boxing is heading somewhere it has never gone before.
Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, branded “Glory in Giza,” will stream live on DAZN and already feels like one of the strangest and most fascinating crossover fights in recent memory.
A world championship fight in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Madness. But also brilliant.
Usyk enters the bout unbeaten at 24-0 with 15 knockouts, while Verhoeven arrives with a tiny but technically undefeated boxing record of 1-0 with one KO. On paper, this is a mismatch. In reality, it is still boxing heavyweight chaos, where one clean shot can flip everything upside down.
Sapphirebet has already released a full slate of prop markets for the fight, and some of the odds are seriously interesting if you like round betting, knockout props, and method-of-victory plays.
Usyk Is a Massive Favorite
The outright market tells the whole story.
Usyk sits at 1.06 to win the fight, while Verhoeven is way out at 12.00. The draw is priced at 16.5.
That means bookmakers are expecting the Ukrainian champion to dominate this fight from the opening bell. And honestly, it makes sense.
Usyk has shared the ring with Tyson Fury twice, Anthony Joshua twice, and Daniel Dubois twice. He has fought 206 professional rounds and solved nearly every style imaginable. Verhoeven, meanwhile, has just two professional boxing rounds on his résumé.
Still, the Dutch kickboxing icon brings serious size, real athleticism, and elite striking instincts. He also owns a two-inch height advantage and a one-inch reach edge over Usyk.
Could that matter early? Maybe.
Over twelve rounds against arguably the best technical heavyweight on the planet? That is another story entirely.
Best Method of Victory Props
The most heavily favored prop on Sapphirebet is simple:
Usyk by KO, TKO, DQ or Referee Stoppage — 1.22
That line tells you exactly what oddsmakers expect. They do not think this fight reaches the judges.
Usyk’s pressure, movement, and accuracy have become overwhelming for bigger heavyweights over the last few years. Daniel Dubois found that out twice. Fury struggled badly once Usyk increased the pace. Even Joshua could not consistently handle the angles.
Verhoeven is tough. Extremely tough.
But boxing defense at heavyweight level is completely different from kickboxing defense, especially against a southpaw technician like Usyk.
The more intriguing value play is:
Usyk by Decision — 6.45
That number feels surprisingly high considering Usyk has gone the distance in three of his last five fights. If Verhoeven shells up, clinches, and survives rather than trying to trade, this fight could become more awkward than explosive.
Still, the betting market clearly expects accumulated damage to become too much.
Verhoeven by knockout sits at 15.00.
That is pure lottery-ticket territory. Sure, heavyweight boxing always carries danger, and Verhoeven unquestionably has power. But betting against Usyk’s ring IQ after everything he has shown against elite competition feels reckless.
Total Rounds Betting Breakdown
One of the sharpest markets available for this fight is the total rounds line.
Here are the key Sapphirebet numbers:
- Over 4.5 rounds — 1.666
- Over 5.5 rounds — 1.92
- Under 5.5 rounds — 1.77
- Over 6.5 rounds — 2.23
- Under 6.5 rounds — 1.55
The sportsbook is effectively projecting a mid-fight stoppage.
That lines up with how many expect this contest to unfold.
Verhoeven should be physically strong enough to survive the early rounds. He is not some random celebrity boxer walking in off the street. He is an elite combat athlete with years of world championship experience in another striking sport.
But there is a massive difference between surviving heavyweight kickboxing exchanges and dealing with Usyk’s layered boxing offense over time.
The Ukrainian typically downloads information early before ramping up his combinations and footwork around the middle rounds.
That makes Over 5.5 rounds at 1.92 one of the more attractive value bets on the board.
Round Betting Props Worth Watching
Sapphirebet also posted detailed round-group props, and this is where things get spicy.
The market currently favors a Usyk stoppage between rounds four and eight.
- Usyk in rounds 1-3 — 3.36
- Usyk in rounds 1-4 — 2.25
- Usyk in rounds 4-6 — 3.125
- Usyk in rounds 5-8 — 2.88
- Usyk in rounds 7-9 — 4.05
The standout number here is probably Usyk in rounds 5-8 at 2.88.
Why? Because it matches the likely pacing of the fight perfectly.
Usyk rarely rushes reckless finishes early. He likes control. He likes adjustments. He likes draining opponents mentally before physically breaking them down.
Verhoeven’s durability and athleticism could help him survive the first few rounds, but once fatigue kicks in and boxing habits start to crack under pressure, the openings become dangerous.
There is also another sneaky prop:
Will Round 8 Start? — Yes at 2.05
That line suggests the market is split on whether Verhoeven can survive into the championship stretch. For bettors expecting a more measured Usyk performance, that plus-money angle is definitely worth consideration.
Fight to Go the Distance?
The “Fight To Go The Distance” market is sitting at 4.56.
That is a huge number for a championship heavyweight fight involving someone as defensively smart as Usyk.
But again, bookmakers are pricing this based on Verhoeven’s lack of elite boxing experience.
Could Rico survive twelve rounds? Possibly.
Will he be able to consistently avoid counters, manage Usyk’s footwork, and stay disciplined under pressure for thirty-six minutes?
That is where things become incredibly difficult.
Final Prediction and Best Bets
Everything about this matchup points toward a controlled Usyk victory.
Verhoeven deserves respect. He is a legitimate combat sports superstar and one of the greatest kickboxers ever. But boxing at heavyweight world-title level against Oleksandr Usyk is an entirely different universe.
The champion’s experience advantage is absurd. Twenty-three more professional fights. Over two hundred additional rounds. Victories over Fury, Joshua, and Dubois.
That matters.
A lot.
Best Sapphirebet prop bets for Usyk vs Verhoeven:
- Usyk by KO/TKO/DQ — 1.22
- Over 5.5 rounds — 1.92
- Usyk in rounds 5-8 — 2.88
- Will Round 8 Start? Yes — 2.05
Official prediction?
Usyk breaks Verhoeven down gradually before forcing a stoppage somewhere around rounds six or seven under the Egyptian lights.
And honestly, heavyweight boxing at the Pyramids of Giza sounds absolutely insane in the best possible way.
Follow TipsGG for more boxing betting previews, prop breakdowns, and fight night analysis ahead of Glory in Giza.