The debate around the May 23 fight in Egypt has focused on two competing views. Some question the sporting value of the matchup because of Verhoeven’s limited professional boxing experience, while others see any Usyk appearance as worth watching regardless of opponent.
“Even if this proves a pointless and disgusting mismatch, as it most likely will, it’s still a chance to watch the king do his thing,” Eric Raskin of Boxingscene wrote.
Verhoeven enters with a major reputation in kickboxing, but limited professional boxing experience. That gap in backgrounds has led to questions about how competitive the contest can be once the opening bell sounds.
Usyk, meanwhile, remains one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport and continues to draw interest regardless of opponent. For some observers, that alone keeps the event relevant.
Still, while the “Glory in Giza” backdrop is flashy, asking fans to shell out $59.99 (or £24.99 in the UK) on DAZN PPV for what many view as a high-budget sparring session is a tough sell.
The disconnect is that Usyk vs. Verhoeven feels like an exhibition masquerading as a legacy defense. Fans might tolerate a lopsided crossover fight as part of a standard subscription, but slapping a PPV tag on it changes the math.
The supporting bouts are high quality, but they aren’t “A-side” enough to carry a $60 price tag on their own.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic: This is a fantastic middleweight clash for a vacant WBO title, but it’s more of a “hardcore fan” delight than a mainstream draw.
Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov: Catterall finally getting his WBA title shot is a great narrative, but he’s never been a primary PPV needle-mover.
Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Frank Sanchez: Seeing if the heavy-handed Olympic silver medalist can crack the “Cuban Flash” is a high-level heavyweight eliminator, but it’s still essentially a prospect-vs-contender fight.
DAZN is pushing their Ultimate Tier hard here, which includes these PPVs in the monthly sub. But for the casual viewer who just wants to see the Pyramids and some heavyweights throw down, the one-off cost feels like junk food priced at a steakhouse rate.
When the main event has a 72% knockout prediction in favor of Usyk against a man with almost zero pro boxing experience, the sporting value argument falls apart. It’s a spectacle, sure, but is it a $60 spectacle? Most fans are saying no.