WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Alexander Usik, who recently supported Sergey Bubka, spoke about preparations for his fight with kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

“And my preparation doesn’t change. I prepare for every opponent just as seriously. Do you know what's the matter I'm training against myself. I am the hardest opponent for myself, because the chances are equal, and sometimes my second Sasha comes like: “Come on, maybe we can rest? “I say: “You go rest, because you are tired - and I need to work”.

Serious preparation, let's train. We don’t have any kind of relaxation - like, we ran 10 km, and now we’ll run 5. No, we ran 10 - that means we’ll run 11. That is, preparations are in full swing, thank God,” Usyk said on the air of “Suspilne Sport”.

The fight between Usik and Verhoeven will take place on May 23 in Egypt.. At stake in the Ukrainian fight will be only the WBC title from the collection of the 39-year-old Ukrainian boxer.

He also owns the WBA and IBF belts, as well as the minor IBO and The Ring belts..

36-year-old Verhoeven had one professional fight in April 2014 and knocked out little-known Hungarian boxer Janos Finfera.

At the same time, Rico is a kickboxing legend, who has 76 kickboxing fights and 66 wins (21 by knockout). He defended his championship belt a record 13 times in the Glory promotion..

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Previously, bookmakers presented the first quotes for the fight between Usik and the kickboxer.