Giza: At the historic pyramids on the edge of Cairo, in front of the Sphinx, the “Glory in Giza” was launched on Tuesday as part of Riyadh Season.
Organized by magazine The Ring and Matchroom, the event marks the start of boxing week amid widespread international interest from combat sports fans around the world.
The main event will take place next Saturday when undefeated Ukrainian world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who holds a perfect record of 24 wins without defeat, including 15 by knockout, enters the bout as the unified heavyweight champion and holder of the WBC title.
Facing him will be Dutch fighter Rico Verhoeven, one of the world’s most famous kickboxing champions, who has a professional boxing record of 1-0 with a single knockout victory.
The fight will take place in the heavyweight division.
In the co-main event, Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz will meet Germany’s Alem Begic for the vacant WBO world title in the super middleweight division at 168 pounds.
Sheeran has a record of 22 wins (18 by knockout), no losses and one draw, while Begic has a record of 29 wins (23 KOs), no losses and one draw.
The card also features a WBA welterweight title fight at 147 pounds, pitting Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov, who has a perfect 17-0 record (10 KOs), against Britain’s Jack Catterall, who has a record of 32-2 (14 KOs).
In a much-anticipated women’s bout, Japan’s Mizuki Hirota, who has a record of 10 wins without defeat, including two knockouts, defends The Ring and WBO superfly 115-pound belts against Egypt’s Mai Suleiman, who has a record of 10 wins (6 KOs) and one loss.
The card also features a heavyweight showdown between Cuban Frank Sanchez, who has a record of 25 wins (18 KOs) and one loss, and American Richard Torres Jr., who has a record of 14 wins (12 KOs) and no losses.
Saudi Arabia’s Sultan Al-Mohammed will compete at 128 pounds against Indonesia’s Didi Imbrax. Al-Mohammed enters the fight undefeated after three fights, including two knockouts, while his opponent has two wins (1 KO) and four losses.
In the light heavyweight division (175 pounds), Ukraine’s Daniel Lapin, who is unbeaten after 13 fights, including five knockouts, will face France’s Benjamin Mendes Tani, who has nine wins and one loss. Lapin, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, enters the bout with an unblemished record, while Mendes Tani aims to upset expectations and halt the Ukrainian’s momentum.
At cruiserweight (200 pounds), Egypt’s Bassem Mamdouh - 10 wins (4 KO) and 2 losses — will meet America’s Jamar Tally, who is undefeated with six wins, including five by knockout.
At 140 pounds, Egypt’s Mohamed Mabrouk Yahya, making the early steps of his professional career, will face Uganda’s Ali Serunkoma, who holds a record of two wins, three losses, and 1 draw.
The card includes a 164-pound contest between Egypt’s Omar Heikal, also at the start of his professional journey, and Tanzania’s Michael Kalyalya (3-4-2) including one knockout.
The pyramids have been extensively prepared for this major event. Egyptologist Hussein Abdel-Basir told Arab News that organizing boxing events in front of the pyramids carries historical significance, because the ancient Egyptians were interested in sports, specifically wrestling, and this was evident in the drawings of the Beni Hassan historical area. He added that King Thutmose IV and Amenhotep II were also interested in sports.
“Holding the event at the pyramids will have a significant impact on tourism promotion. This major event will attract the attention of boxing fans around the world,” he added.
