Oleksandr Usyk was given a strict deadline and insisted that he either continue to fight his mandatory challenger or vacate one of his three world heavyweight titles.

Last Saturday, the 39-year-old faced a more tough than expected task, defeating Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round, thanks to which he defended the WBC, IBF and WBA belts.

Although the performance was below his typically lofty standards, Usyk nonetheless showed his winning mentality, defeating the Dutch kickboxer with a breathtaking uppercut.

After a great account of himself, Verhoeven regained his balance and seemed to weather the storm, but referee Mark Lyson waved him off.

Both fighters were then joined in the ring by “interim” WBC champion Agit Kabayel, who rightly demanded a shot at the champion.

The 33-year-old has held his “interim” belt since February 2025, that is he stopped Zhilei Zhang with a wild body attack in round six.

He then arranged a homecoming show in Germany with the assist of Queensberry promoter Frank Warren, who was particularly adamant that Kabayel must fight for the full WBC title in his next appearance.

The German challenger said talkSPORTMeanwhile, he strongly believes that the champion will vacate the WBC belt and turn away from the potential fight.

“Honestly, I think Oleksandr will leave. I think that’s what Frank is talking about [the fight] with Usyk’s team and we will wait a week.

“I think we have a week to see if Usyk says something and then we’ll see what [happens].

“But in my opinion, Usyk won’t want to fight for me. I want to fight Usyk.”

If Usyk relinquishes the WBC title and allows Kabayel to advance or fight for the vacant belt, a rematch with Verhoeven will certainly be the next best option for the Ukrainian.

Kristian Prenga, the opponent who will face Anthony Joshua on July 25, says he only needs one neat shot to change the heavyweight landscape and the trajectory of his career. The Albanian heavyweight delivered his message in his remarks Casinolyzelabeling the fight as one that he feels Joshua and the wider boxing public are taking too lightly.

Joshua’s July 25 assignment against Prenga is widely seen as a time to get busy or fine-tune ahead of the long-rumored clash with Tyson Fury, and Prenga has used his platform to oppose the situation.

“One punch changes everything in this division”

Prenga began by addressing the feeling that he is nothing more than a placeholder in Joshua’s path to returning to a major fight.

“Everyone is talking about Joshua vs. Fury as if this fight is just a formality, which is a very hazardous way of thinking in heavyweight boxing. One punch changes everything in this division,” Prenga told Casinolyze.

“I won’t show up for paydays or photo shoots, I’m coming to win the fight. If I win, I will overnight blow away the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.”

He continued: “The world must understand that I am not an artificial warrior. I am a real warrior who has earned everything through demanding work. I fight for my family, my supporters, for Albania, and now I fight for every person who has ever been overlooked or underestimated.”

“Winning changes everything: financially, professionally and historically. But above all, it shows that faith, endurance and perseverance still matter in this sport.”

Prenga doubts the fight will go the distance

Asked how he sees the fight developing, Prenga said he expects one side or the other to finish.

“I would be surprised if this fight was a success. We are both ponderous hitters. I’m not afraid. It matters. Many opponents lose to Joshua before they even step into the ring. Not me, I fully train to win. When you combine that mentality with heavyweight strength, anything is possible.”

Identifying Joshua’s Tender Spots

Prenga was careful not to be disrespectful to Joshua’s resume, but said he and his team had identified the areas they intended to focus on.

“I’m not going to disrespect Anthony Joshua because he has achieved a lot in this sport. But like every heavyweight, he has weaknesses,” Prenga said. “We believe the pressure, pace and forced exchanges can reveal things that are not evident when he is comfortably controlling the fight behind the jab.”

He returned to the topic later, referring to Joshua’s previous failures without naming his opponents.

“No two fights are the same, but these fights have shown something vital: when Joshua is dragged into uncomfortable situations, he becomes vulnerable.”

Which Joshua will appear?

Prenga said he is preparing for the most hazardous version of the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, while confirming the issue of which Joshua will arrive on fight night.

“Which version of AJ will we get? This is one of the most vital questions before the fight. At the beginning of his career, Joshua fought with more freedom and aggression. In recent years, he has become more cautious at times, probably due to some setbacks he has experienced. We will see which version emerges. I am prepared for the best possible version.”

Fueled by doubt

Asked if he felt left out as he took on the most vital task of his career, Prenga said the layoffs worked to his advantage.

“Yes, for sure. But that’s okay. The people who overlook me today will be the same people pretending later that they always knew how hazardous I was. Doubt fuels me.”

He finished with a return to the shot that he felt would define the evening.

“I’m a heavy-handed fighter. I don’t need five or six neat shots to turn the fight around, just one. When I land on Joshua’s chin, we’ll quickly know how long he has left.”

Joshua vs. Prenga will take place on July 25.

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