Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven LIVE: Start time, undercard, fight updates and results tonight

Under a moon, under the stars, and with the pyramids glowing in their neon splendour, Rico Verhoeven will attempt the impossible in the middle of the magical tonight.

Can Verhoeven follow Tani in securing an upset win?

Okay, okay… Verhoeven beating Usyk would be on another LEVEL to Tani’s upset of Lapin, of course.

In any case, we spoke to Verhoeven’s former training partner – and almost-opponent – Alistair Overeem about tonight’s main event.

Here’s what the kickboxing icon turned UFC heavyweight contender said about the “X factors” that Verhoeven brings:

Speaking of odds… Benjamin Mendes Tani just upset them!

He has stopped Usyk’s teammate and friend Daniel Lapin in the fourth round, having dropped the Ukrainian three times in their light-heavyweight bout.

That’s a first pro loss for Lapin! What a start to the evening’s action.

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Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Rico Verhoeven (WBC heavyweight title)

Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic (vacant WBO super-middleweight title)

Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov (vacant WBA Regular welterweight title)

Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr (heavyweight)

Mizuki Hiruta (C) vs Mai Soliman (women’s WBO super-flyweight title)

Daniel Lapin vs Benjamin Mendes Tani (light-heavyweight)

The main card just got under way, with main-event ring walks due at roughly 10.45pm BST (2.45pm PT / 4.45pm CT / 5.45pm ET).

Welcome to our live coverage of Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven!

Still, the unified champion cannot afford to be complacent against Verhoeven, 37, who is one of the greatest strikers that combat sports has ever seen.