Over the last year alone, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Tyson Fury and Vasiliy Lomachenko have announced their comebacks to chase a challenge – and a check.

Oleksandr Usyk, however, won’t be playing around when it comes to calling it quits. Once he’s done, he’s done.

Usyk, a father of four who turns 40 in January, has consistently stated that the sand in the hourglass of his career is running out. That sentiment hasn’t shifted ahead of his Saturday showdown against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt, which will headline a DAZN Pay-Per-View show.

“Three fights [including Verhoeven] and finished,” Usyk said during an interview streamed by DAZN. “It’s not 100 percent, but when I say I’m retired, I won’t be back.”

After cleaning out the competition with two wins each against Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight champion, is dancing to a different kind of beat by taking on the Dutch kickboxer amidst a captivating backdrop at Pyramids of Giza.

“It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be a great show,” Usyk said. “Of course, it’s a tough fight. It’s not an easy walk. It doesn’t matter who I am fighting, I am prepared 100 percent. He’s a good challenge.”

Although Usyk is listed as a 25-1 favorite, he maintains that he’s not overlooking his novice challenger. Verhoeven has a kickboxing record of 66 wins (21 KOs) and 10 losses, but is just 1-0 in boxing and hasn’t competed in it since 2014.

“My team is preparing me for his style, and I trust my team,” Usyk said. “I don’t feel the pressure in this fight. I just work. I do what I can do. I am training hard every day. I feel good. For me, it’s my discipline, my work.”

As for the work that remains after Verhoeven and before retirement, Usyk, The Ring’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, will have a small sample of significant slugfests to consider. Chief among them should be Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs), the WBC interim champion and The Ring’s No. 2-rated contender in the division.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.