He returned to Houston, Texas in January attempting to stay sharp and build off his ninth-round knockout of Jan Helin.

"Working with Bobby Benton has helped me grow technically, mentally, and physically as a fighter," Prat told The Ring.

"I've been in a long training camp with one clear goal: reaching the highest level in world boxing."

Prat (29-1, 23 KOs) had been linked with a title defense against Sam Eggington before the Brit elected for a more lucrative opportunity, losing a pulsating Conah Walker battle in their 150-pound catchweight last month.

When a fight with Victor Yoka didn't work out, the 26-year-old decided to stay active and will face Amiri Matumla on Wednesday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the undercard of stablemate Michel Soro facing Hassan Mwakinyo.

"[Matumla is] another undefeated fighter, in a very interesting matchup that should confirm the progress I've been making in training over the past few months," he said.

"The event will take place at Parc des Expositions d’Abidjan, the biggest arena in West Africa, in what promises to be an incredible atmosphere. I believe Africa deserves events of this level, and I’m proud to be part of it."

He will then turn his attention to defending his title and hinted at something significant.

"I remain the European champion and my official challenger is Vasile Cebotari, who is undefeated and a very tough fighter," he said.

"We will also announce a very big fight for September very soon. There is real ambition behind that event, and I believe we could build strong communication around it together."

Ultimately, the fired-up Frenchman wants to challenge the best fighters his division has to offer.

"I want to fight the best American fighters," he said. "Since I was a kid, I've dreamed of fighting in the legendary arenas of the United States against the best names in the sport.

"Why not face fighters like Erickson Lubin, Keith Thurman or other major names in 2026, before eventually challenging elite fighters such as Jaron Ennis, Xander Zayas, Sebastian Fundora or Vergil Ortiz. I want to test myself against the very best and prove that I belong at the highest level of world boxing."