LONDON: The star-studded undercard for the “Glory in Giza” boxing event in Egypt on May 23 has been unveiled.
In the previously announced headline bout, unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
On Friday, Turki Alalshikh, chairperson of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and co-founder of Zuffa Boxing, and The Ring Magazine revealed the other match-ups at the event, which is supported by Matchroom Boxing and will stream live, worldwide on DAZN.
Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1) and Alem Begic (29-0-1) lead the undercard in a clash of unbeaten fighters competing for the vacant World Boxing Organization Super Middleweight title. The bout marks Sheeraz’s return to the ring for the first time since his fifth-round knockout of Edgar Berlanga in New York last July.
British welterweight Jack Catterall (32-2-0) faces undefeated Uzbek contender Shakhram Giyasov (17-0-0) for the World Boxing Association Regular world title. Catterall is coming off a victory over WBO Global champion Ekow Essuman on the Eubank Jr. vs Benn II undercard in November.
Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (25-1-0) will take on unbeaten Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (14-0-0).
Ring Magazine Female Fighter of the Year Mizuki Hiruta (10-0-0) will defend her Ring and WBO super flyweight titles against Egyptian-born Australian Mai Soliman (10-1-0). It will be Hiruta’s seventh-straight defense of her WBO belt, which she won in September 2022, and her first bout on a major card.
Egyptian cruiserweight Basem Mamdouh (10-2-0) will compete on home soil, taking on the undefeated American Jamar Talley (6-0-0).
The undercard will also showcase two emerging Egyptian talents, with Mahmoud Mobark facing Michael Kalyalya of Tanzania, and Omar Hikal taking on Ali Sserunkuma of Uganda.
